Abdominal muscle activity during breathing with and without inspiratory and expiratory loads in healthy subjects. (October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mesquita Montes, António; Baptista, João; Crasto, Carlos; de Melo, Cristina Argel; Santos, Rita; Vilas-Boas, João Paulo
• Is Part Of: Journal of electromyography and kinesiology. Volume 30(2016:Oct.)
• Page Start: 143
• Page End: 150
• Publication Date: 2016-10
• Subjects: Respiration -- Postural control -- Core abdominal -- Respiratory loads -- Surface electromyographic activity; Electromyography -- Periodicals; Kinesiology -- Periodicals; Electromyography -- Periodicals; Movement -- physiology -- Periodicals; Muscles -- physiology -- Periodicals; Électromyographie -- Périodiques; Cinésiologie -- Périodiques; Electromyography; Kinesiology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 616.740757
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2016.07.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1050-6411

Abstract

Abstract: Central Nervous System modulates the motor activities of all trunk muscles to concurrently regulate the intra-abdominal and intra-thoracic pressures. The study aims to evaluate the effect of inspiratory and expiratory loads on abdominal muscle activity during breathing in healthy subjects. Twenty-three higher education students (21.09 ± 1.56 years; 8 males) breathed at a same rhythm (inspiration: two seconds; expiration: four seconds) without load and with 10% of the maximal inspiratory or expiratory pressures, in standing. Surface electromyography was performed to assess the activation intensity of rectus abdominis, external oblique and transversus abdominis /internal oblique muscles, during inspiration and expiration. During inspiration, transversus abdominis /internal oblique activation intensity was significantly lower with inspiratory load when compared to without load ( p = 0.009) and expiratory load ( p = 0.002). During expiration, the activation intensity of all abdominal muscles was significantly higher with expiratory load when compared to without load ( p < 0.05). The activation intensity of external oblique ( p = 0.036) and transversus abdominis /internal oblique ( p = 0.022) was significantly higher with inspiratory load when compared to without load. Transversus abdominis /internal oblique activation intensity was significantly higher with expiratory load when compared to inspiratory load ( p < 0.001). Transversus abdominis /internal oblique seems to be the most relevant muscle to modulate the intra-abdominal pressure for the breathing mechanics.