A Comparison of Abdominal Muscle Thicknesses Measured by Ultrasonography between the Abdominal Drawing-in and Straight Leg Raise Maneuvers

Abstract

[Purpose] This study compared and analyzed the ultrasonograms of deep abdominal muscles (transverse abdominis muscle, internus oblique abdominal muscle, external oblique abdominal muscle) in the Active Straight Leg Raise (ASLR) and Abdominal Drawing-In Maneuver (ADIM) to identify more effective clinical diagnosis methods. [Subjects and Methods] The study was conducted by performing ASLR and ADIM movement in sequence. The subjects were 37 healthy subjects and we measured the thicknesses of deep abdominal muscles (transverse abdominis muscle, internus oblique abdominal muscle, external oblique abdominal muscle) on ultrasonograms taken during ASLR and ADIM for comparison and analysis. In order to assess the relations among the deep abdominal muscles on the same side as measured during ASLR and ADIM, a correlation analysis was carried out. The independent t-test was conducted to identify the differences in thicknesses of same side muscles as measured during ASLR and ADIM. [Results] The results show that each muscle on the same side during ASLR and ADIM had high level of correlations except during ASLR and ADIM the right EO. Also, for the muscle thickness of the same side muscles, only the right EO showed a significant differences. [Conclusion] ADIM is a complicated and difficult movement to measure. ASLR also enables the measurement of deep abdominal muscles; therefore, it could be used to elevate the efficiency of clinical diagnosis. We anticipate that ASLR will be used more for the measurement of deep abdominal muscles.