Clinical Assessment and Thickness Changes of the Oblique and Multifidus Muscles

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Abdominal Muscles
• Interventions: Other: Rotation Exercises; Other: Control Exercises

• Registration Number: NCT03539211
• Lead Sponsor: Christiana Care Health Services

Brief Summary

This study evaluates the effect of a rotation based exercise program on core muscle thickness. Additionally, a second aim is to demonstrate the ability of a clinical assessment tool to identify muscle thickness changes. Half of participants receive the rotation based exercises, while the other half perform a traditional core exercise program. It was hypothesized that the rotation based exercises would result in greater changes in muscle thickness.

Detailed Description

A number of exercise programs and assessment tools have been evaluated for their ability to influence and measure the core muscles. Inefficient stability and asymmetrical muscle activity of the core have been linked to a wide range of lower extremity injuries. Training of the abdominal muscles to obtain symmetrical recruitment for optimal trunk stabilization is a widespread clinical practice, however valid and reliable assessment tools and effective intervention protocols are lacking. This study uniquely uses both a clinical assessment tool and musculoskeletal ultrasound to measure changes in the core muscles following an exercise intervention. The overall purpose of this study was to design a valid and reliable assessment tool and an effective training protocol to activate the core muscles.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2015-02-25
• Primary Completion: 2016-08-25
• Study Completion: 2016-08-25
• Study First Submitted: 2018-05-16
• Study First Submitted QC: 2018-05-16
• Study First Posted: 2018-05-29
• Results First Submitted: 2020-08-03
• Status Verified: 2020-09
• Results First Submitted QC: 2020-09-03
• Last Update Submitted: 2020-09-03
• Results First Posted: 2020-09-07
• Last Update Posted: 2020-09-07

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 31

Inclusion Criteria

° Undergraduate and graduate subjects from the University of the Delaware student community.

Exclusion Criteria

• You could be excluded if you have recently undergone surgery in the last 6 months.
• Currently suffering from low back pain.
• Or have a history of a neurological condition.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Rotation Exercises	Rotation Exercises	8 minute program of rotation based exercises
Control Exercises	Control Exercises	8 minute program of traditional exercises

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Changes in Muscle Thickness	Baseline and 10 minutes post intervention	Musculoskeletal ultrasound measured changes in muscle thickness

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Changes in Clinical Muscle Assessment Using the Novel Sling Screen	Baseline and 10 minutes post intervention	Clinician based assessment of muscle function using the sling screen tool; Kappa coefficients were calculated to examine agreement between the 2 physical therapists that completed the sling screen assessments and to account for chance effects in scoring.; A rating system was used for scoring performance. Min value on the scale is 2 and max value = 5; higher score is a better outcome.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Delaware; 🇺🇸 Newark, Delaware, United States