Comparison of the pressure biofeedback unit and real-time ultrasound imaging as feedback tools to teach healthy elderlies to contract their transversus abdominis muscle: a randomized controlled trial
Year: 2020
Type: dissertation
Study designs: Randomized Controlled Trial, Clinical Trial
Abstract: Background: The transversus abdominis (TrA) is a key muscle for the lumbar stabilization and is often re-educated in physiotherapy. Feedback tools exist to help physiotherapists teach their patients to contract this muscle, such as the pressure biofeedback unit (PBU) and the real-time ultrasound imaging (RUSI). However, their effect in rehabilitating the TrA in older adults remains to be demonstrated, as is their efficiency in transferring the skill of recruiting the TrA from the supine position to the standing position. Objectives: The objective of the study was to compare the immediate effectiveness of the PBU and RUSI to reeducate TrA in a population of asymptomatic older adults (without pain). Forty participants were randomized into two groups (RUSI or PBU). The intervention included a training of 15 contractions of 10 seconds with the corresponding feedback device. The dependent variable, the thickness of the TrA (a muscle activation indicator), was measured from ultrasound images before and after the procedure in supine and standing positions. Non-parametric analyzes were used for inter and intra group comparisons. Results: The results show no differences in TrA activation ratio in a supine or standing position between groups (supine AR: TrA RUSI thickness change p= 0.05 vs PBU thickness change p= 0.7, comparison between group p= 0.5; standing AR: TrA RUSI thickness change p= 0.003 vs PBU thickness change p= 0.1, comparison between group p= 0.6). However, the change of thickness in the TrA preferentially to the other abdominal wall muscles in standing was significantly lower post intervention for the RUSI group only (RUSI p=0.006 vs PBU p=0.7. The two groups remained similar to each other post intervention for this outcome (p=0.2). Conclusion: Thus, none of the two tools studied seem to have the desired effect on the activation of TrA in the elderly. In the light of the results in standing, a doubt is created; is the feedback when learning TRA recruitment is conducive to better recruitment?
Author: Daigle, Frédérique
Institution: Université de Sherbrooke
Language: French
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Awards: G1701427701, G1749632606, G8268474246
OpenAlex ID: W7201915515