Abstract
In a clinical setup, difficulty in maintaining posture and controlling movements while bending, lateral bending, or performing rotation of the thoracic and lumbar region due to reduced activities of the abdominal oblique, multifidus, longissimus, and iliocostalis muscles, when in the seated and standing positions, and during walking, is often encountered. We trained patients with postural and control difficulties to shift their body weight laterally from one limb to the other while standing to increase the activities of the trunk muscles and improve the seated, standing, and gait postures. The activities of the trunk muscles, that serve as clinical indicators, were evaluated using electromyography and measurement of tissue stiffness. In the present study, we present the results of our research on the activities of the trunk muscles in the sitting and standing positions, and during sustained lateral shifting of body weight from one limb to the other while standing, and discuss their clinical implications.
