All trunk muscles are important contributors to spine stability. However, the deepest abdominal muscle, transversus abdominis (TrA), with its characteristically horizontal fibre orientation seems to serve a unique function in trunk motor control. The main mechanical role of TrA is believed to be to contribute to vertebral alignment during imposed moments on the trunk, executed mainly via either regulating the pressure level within the abdominal cavity and/or transmit forces to the spine via the thoracolumbar fascia. However, the complete function of TrA and what factors affect its activation are still not fully understood. The purpose of the present thesis was to investigate the role of TrA in trunk motor control, specifically in relation to the presence or absence of postural demand on the trunk. The timing and magnitude of TrA activation were investigated, in relation to other trunk muscles, with intramuscular fine-wire electrodes in different loading situations and body positions with varying postural demand. In a side-lying position, with no postural demand of keeping the trunk upright, the activation of TrA was delayed relative the superficial abdominal muscles compared to previous experiments performed in a standing position. The timing and magnitude of activation of TrA did not depend upon the direction of perturbation. In the standing position, different static arm positions revealed that the activation of TrA co-varied with variations in the degree of postural demand on the trunk and also the imposed moments, regardless of moment direction. Finally, a study on rapid arm flexion movements confirmed that TrA is part of the pre-programmed anticipatory response in advance of known perturbations. The activation magnitude of TrA was the same regardless if the arm movement induced flexion or extension  moments on the trunk. In conclusion, the activation of TrA is associated with the upright postural demand on the trunk and with balancing imposed moments acting on the spine, regardless their direction. The findings are in support of the beliefs that TrA act as a general, direction non specific, stabilizer of the lumbar spine.

Bakgrund: Bukväggens muskulatur spelar en viktig roll gällande hållning, bål- och bäckenstabilitet, andning, bålrörelser och som stöd för de inre organen i buken. Rektusdiastas, en delning av bukmusklerna, är vanligt förekommande framför allt hos kvinnor under och efter graviditet och kan eventuellt påverka dessa funktioner och göra ländryggen och bäckenet mer sårbara. Syfte: Att undersöka om det finns ett samband mellan vidden på rektusdiastasen och ländryggs- och bäckensmärta samt vidden på rektusdiastasen och rörelserädsla, hos kvinnor efter graviditet. Metod: Kvantitativ tvärsnittsstudie. Antalet deltagare var 141. Populationen var kvinnor 20-50 år som fött barn där yngsta barnet var mellan 1-8 år och som förstod och kunde uttrycka svenska i tal och skrift. Deltagarna skulle ha en rektusdiastas på minst 2 fingerbredd mellan rektusbukarna mätt 4 cm ovanför naveln. Datainsamlingen bestod av ultraljudsmätning samt frågeformulären Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) och Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK-SV). Korrelation analyserades med Spearmans korrelationskoefficient. Deltagarna delades in i två grupper utifrån att de hade en rektusdiastas på mer eller mindre än 2,4 cm och skillnaderna mellan grupperna analyserades med Mann-Whitney U-test. Resultat: Ingen statistisk signifikant korrelation över p = 0,05 förelåg mellan vidden på rektusdiastasen och någon av smärtskattningarna. Däremot förelåg en statistiskt signifikant svagt positiv korrelation mellan vidden på rektusdiastasen och rörelserädsla. Vidare sågs ingen statistisk signifikant skillnad mellan de två grupperna, ≤ 2,4 cm eller >2,4 cm rektusdiastas, och smärtskattningarna. Resultatet visade dock på statistisk signifikant skillnad mellan grupperna och skattningen av rörelserädsla. Slutsats: Studien visade att vidden av rektusdiastas som enskild faktor inte hade något samband med ländryggs- och bäckensmärtor hos kvinnor efter graviditet. Kvinnor med kvarstående rektusdiastas > 2,4 cm, tenderade i denna studien att skatta högre på TSKSV, än de som hade ≤ 2,4 cm. Gällande skattningen av smärtan sågs ingen statistisk signifikans mellan grupperna. I mötet med dessa kvinnor bör fysioterapeuter inte endast fokusera på smärtan utan beakta fler faktorer såsom rörelserädsla, och fokusera på att guida dessa personer till att våga röra sig för att minska och undvika utveckling av rörelserädsla. / Background: The abdominal muscles play an important part in posture, inner unit stability, breathing, upper body movement, to generate power of the abdominal muscles and in supporting inner organs. Diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscles is common during and after pregnancy and might affect these important functions and thereby increase the vulnerability of the lower back and pelvic areas. Aim: To determine the correlation between the width of the diastasis recti abdominis and low back- and pelvic pain and the width of diastasis recti abdominis and fear of movement, in women after pregnancy. Method: Quantitative cross-sectional study. The amount of participants was 141. The population was women, 20-50 years old, who had given birth, the youngest child between the ages of 1-8 years old and were able to understand Swedish both verbally and in writing. The research participants had a diastasis recti abdominis more than 2 finger-widths, measured 4 cm above the umbilicus. The data collection was made with ultrasound and the questionnaires used were Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and the swedish version of Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TSK-SV). Correlation was analyzed with Spearman’s correlation coefficient. The participants were also divided into two groups based on a cut-off value of the diastasis of 2,4 cm and differences between groups were analyzed with Mann-Whitney U-test. Results: No statistical significance in correlation over p = 0,05 was found between the width of the diastasis recti abdominis and any of the pain ratings. However, there was a statistical significant weak positive correlation between the width of the diastasis recti abdominis and fear of movement. Furthermore there was no statistical significance between the groups ≤ 2,4 cm or > 2,4 cm of diastasis recti abdominis and the pain ratings, but a significant difference between the groups and the estimation on fear of movement. Conclusion: The study showed that the width of diastasis recti abdominis as alone factor doesn’t have any correlation with low back- and pelvic pain in women after pregnancy. Women with remaining diastasis recti abdominis > 2,4 cm, tended to estimate higher in this study in TSK-SV than those who had ≤ 2,4 cm. Regarding the ratings of the pain, no statistically significant difference between the groups were shown. When meeting these women physiotherapists should not only focus on the pain but also consider factors such as fear of movement and focus their efforts on guiding the women so that the risk of developing fear of movement is reduced.

Activating the core muscles through exercise training programs is believed to be important for athletic performance. Considerable attention has been credited to the lumbar multifidus, transverse abdominis, and quadratus lumborum in designing exercise training programs. Numerous core exercise claims and recommendations abound in the fitness and physical therapy communities touting a superior core challenge for these muscles. The plethora of core activation literature with conflicting outcomes has convoluted the process of choosing exercises for an optimal core training approach. Although an abundance of research studies have quantified the muscle activity, collectively, a consensus on the type of exercise that elicits the largest muscle activity does not exist. Therefore, the objective of this investigation was to critically examine the literature and synthesize the muscle activity produced across various physical fitness exercises to determine which type of exercise elicits the largest amplitude for the core muscles in healthy individuals. PubMed, EMBASE, SPORTdiscus, CINAHL, (CCRT) and Web of Science databases were searched revealing 27 studies meeting the inclusion criteria measuring EMG activity during 202 exercises. In absence of research for the quadratus lumborum, no conclusions could be made and bring about concern for current recommendations. Furthermore, the methodological diversity significantly limited the quality of studies meriting standardization for future EMG research. Nonetheless, the current evidence suggests free weight exercises and non-core exercises using external resistances produce the largest EMG activity for the lumbar multifidus and transverse abdominis, respectively.

Orientador: Fausto Viterbo / Banca: Miguel Sabino Neto / Banca: Jayme Adriano Farina Junior / Resumo: Foi realizado estudo experimental em ratos, visando avaliar o efeito da ablação cirúrgica dos músculos retos abdominais (MRA), nos padrões utilizados nos retalhos TRAM, sobre a resistência da parede abdominal. Utilizou-se 60 ratos machos da linhagem Wistar, divididos aleatoriamente em três grupos de 20 animais. No primeiro grupo removeu-se um dos músculos, no segundo, ambos e o terceiro grupo, controle, não foi submetido à cirurgia. Após 180 dias os animais foram sacrificados e submetidos a dois tipos de avaliação: aumento progressivo da pressão intracavitária, com o auxílio de um balão de silicone, para a observação do surgimento de abaulamentos ou hérnias, e teste de tração em dinamômetro, para quantificar a resistência da parede abdominal à tração. O segmento operado das paredes abdominais foi submetido à análise histológica. Constatou-se no primeiro teste não haver diferença significativa entre os três grupos. No teste da tração, as paredes abdominais submetidas à cirurgia apresentaram resistência significativamente maior do que as do grupo controle. A histologia evidenciou fibrose cicatricial madura, uniformemente distribuída, e fibras musculares em posição anatômica. Na análise estatística, para comparar os valores da pressão de ruptura (mmHg) e da Tração-Força Máxima (N) dos três grupos foi utilizada Análise de Variância de um fator. Quando o resultado do teste F foi estatisticamente significante, aplicou-se o Post-Hoc de Tukey para se identificar as diferenças. Concluiu-se que, no modelo utilizado, a remoção cirúrgica dos MRA não provoca redução na resistência da parede abdominal. / Abstract: This experimental study was carried out in rats, with the purpose to evaluate the effect of the surgical ablation of the rectus abdominis muscles (RAM), in the patterns of the TRAM flap, on the resistance of the abdominal wall. Sixty male Wistar rats were used, divided randomly in three groups of twenty animals. In the first group, one of the muscles was removed, in the second, both and the third group, the control group, was not submitted to the surgery. After 180 days the animals were killed and submitted to two types of evaluation: an increase in the intracavitary pressure, with the help of a silicone balloon, to observe the emergence of bulge or hernia, and a test in a dynamometer to quantify the resistance of the abdominal wall to traction. The operated segment of the abdominal walls was submitted to histological analysis. In the first test, it was testified that there was no significant difference between the three groups. In the traction test, the abdominal walls submitted to the surgery showed a resistance significantly greater than the ones on the control group. Histology evidenced mature cicatricial fibrosis, evenly distributed, and muscular fibers in anatomical position. In the statistical analysis, to compare the values of rupture pressure (mmHg) and the Maximum Traction-Force (N) of the three groups it was used one-way Analysis of Variance. When the F test result showed to be statistically significant, the Tuckey test was applied to identify the differences. It was concluded that, in the used model, the surgical removal of the RAM didn't cause a reduction in the abdominal wall resistance. / Mestre

Orientadores: Ilka de Fátima Santana Ferreira Boin, Alberto Cliquet Junior / Texto em português e inglês / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-24T19:22:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Silva_AureaMariaOliveirada_D.pdf: 3321051 bytes, checksum: f6610f15d11aceeb44323830d9953cd0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: A eletromiografia de superfície (EMGs) é uma técnica não-invasiva para a detecção da atividade da musculatura esquelética, podendo ser utilizada para verificação da atividade dos músculos da respiração, como o diafragma e reto abdominal, escassamente estudados na literatura. Objetivo - Este estudo comparou a eletromiografia de superfície (músculos diafragma e reto abdominal) de indivíduos não hepatopatas e pacientes hepatopatas em lista de espera de transplante de fígado. Método ¿ Estudo prospectivo transversal analítico com indivíduos do sexo masculino acima de 18 anos distribuídos em dois grupos: Grupo hepatopata (GH) e não hepatopata (GNH). Através da EMGs, avaliou-se a média da raiz quadratica ¿ RMS dos músculos diafragma e reto abdominal direitos. Verificou-se a força muscular através da manovacuometria (pressão inspiratória máxima - PIM e pressão expiratória máxima- PEM) e os volumes e fluxos pulmonares, usando se a espirometria (CVF ¿ capacidade vital, VEF1 ¿ volume expiratório forçado no primeiro segundo, FEM25-75% - fluxo expiratório máximo em 25-75% da CVF); e através do oximetro verificou-se frequência cardíaca (FC) e saturacão de oxigênio (satO2). Os outros dados analisados foram idade, índice de massa corpórea (IMC), antecedentes respiratórios, presença ou não de tabagismo, atividade física e ascite; escore MELD (model for end-stage liver disease), sendo considerado seis pontos para o grupo não hepatopata. Na análise estatística foi utilizado o teste Levene, de Mann-Whitney, qui-quadrado com teste de Fisher para análise das variáveis categóricas e a curva ROC (receiver operating curve), com nível de significância de 5%. Resultados ¿ Foram estudados 236 indivíduos, sendo: GNH (65) e GH (171). Foi observado no GH um IMC maior, possivelmente pela presença de ascite (p = 0,001 ); um RMS maior do reto abdominal (p = 0,0001) e da RMS do diafragma (p = 0,030); frequência cardíaca mais alta (p=0,0001); uma diminuição nos índices de PIM e PEM (p = 0,0001) e diminuição do VEF1 e FEM 25-75% (p=0,0001). Entre os pacientes em lista de transplante, 56 (32,7%) dos pacientes foram submetidos o transplante no período do estudo sendo a mortalidade em lista de 12,9% (22 pacientes). A ascite foi encontrada somente no grupo GH e tanto o tabagismo, quanto a atividade física e antecedentes pulmonares não foi diferente nos grupos estudados. A curva ROC mostrou que a RMS do reto abdominal foi capaz de discriminar os pacientes com doença hepática dos indivíduos não hepatopatas (área = 0,63 ; IC95 % :0.549 - 0,725 ). Conclusão - A EMGs, juntamente com dados do perfil respiratório, mostrou que os pacientes hepatopatas em lista de espera possuem um déficit muscular respiratório, que pode levar a complicações pulmonares no pós-operatório / Abstract: Surface electromyography (sEMG) is a non-invasive method to detect skeletal muscle activity used for respiratory muscle verification. There is little in the literature about the diaphragm and rectus abdominal using sEMG. Aim - This study compared sEMG for diaphragm and rectus abdominis muscles of a group of individuals with liver disease on the waiting list for liver transplantation to a group without. Method ¿ An analytical cross-sectional prospective study was carried out with 236 men, all over 18 years old, which were distributed into two groups: group hepatopathy (HG) and no hepatic disease group (NHG). sEMG, applying the root mean square (RMS) for the diaphragm and rectus abdominis right muscle, was used. The muscle strength was measured using a manometer (maximal inspiratory pressure - MIP and expiratory pressure - MEP), and for lung volumes and flows, (FVC: forced vital capacity, FEV1: forced expiratory volume in one second, MEF25-75%: maximum expiratory flow 25-75% of FVC) spirometry was used. By using a oximeter heart rate (HR) and oxygen saturation (SpO2) were calculated. Other demographic and clinical data were: age, body mass index (BMI), respiratory antecedent disease, smoker or non-smoker, physical activity (yes/no) and ascites (yes/no), and MELD score (model for end-stage liver disease). In the non-hepatic group six points for MELD were considered. For statistical analysis Levene test, Mann- Whitney test, chi-square with Fisher test for the categorical variables and ROC (receiver operating curve), with a significance level of 5 %, was used in a SPSS 21.0. Results - NHG (65) and HG (171) were studied. HG showed a higher BMI, possibly due to the presence of ascites (P = 0.001); an increase in the RMS of the rectus abdominis (P = 0.0001) and the RMS of the diaphragm (P = 0.030), and heart rate (P = 0.0001); while there was a decrease in levels of MEP, MIP (P = 0.0001), FEV1 and MEF 25-75% (P = 0.0001). Between patients on the transplant waiting list, 56 (32.7%) were submitted to liver transplantation during the study, and mortality in list was 12.9% (22 patients). Ascites were found only in the HG. Smoking habits, physical activity and pulmonary disease antecedents were not different in either group. The ROC curve showed that the RMS rectus abdominis was able to discriminate subjects with liver disease (area = 0.63, 95%CI: 0549 -0.725). Conclusion -sEMG, along with respiratory profile data, showed that the liver disease waiting list patients had a respiratory muscle impairment, which may lead to pulmonary complications in the postoperative transplant period / Doutorado / Fisiopatologia Cirúrgica / Doutora em Ciências

Orientador: Antonio Dalla Pria Bankoff / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Educação Fisica / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-18T15:47:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Moraes_AntonioCarlosde_M.pdf: 2844805 bytes, checksum: 97f55be09fef913d0c5df2f3fe4bbc41 (MD5) Previous issue date: 1993 / Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar através da eletromiografia os músculos reto abdominal -porções supra e infra-umbilical; oblíquo externo ¿ porções anterior e posterior, em crianças na faixa etária de 08 a 10 anos, praticantes de ginástica artística e ginástica rítmica desportiva em nível de treinamento e de aprendizado, durante a execução de exercícios abdominais na posição de decúbito dorsal, no solo e com prancha. As crianças foram divididas em dois grupos, sendo, Grupo I - 10 crianças treinadas, e Grupo II - 19 crianças de aprendizado. As integrantes do Grupo I treinam em média 5 vezes por semana e as do Grupo 11 treinam 2 vezes por semana. Os exercícios analisados foram: solo - elevação das pernas a 30 cm, 20 cm e 10 cm de altura com joelhos flexionados a 90 graus; flexão do tronco mantendo-se as pernas elevadas e joelhos flexionados; flexão do tronco com rotação homo e heterolateral do tronco com as pernas elevadas e joelhos flexionados. Prancha - flexão do tronco com joelhos flexionados a 90 graus sobre prancha inclinada 30 cm, 20 cm e 10 cm; flexão do tronco com rotação do tronco homo e heterolateral com joelhos flexionados em prancha inclinada 30 cm, 20 cm e 10 cm. Os resultados mostraram que a porção supra-umbilical do músculo reto abdominal apresentou potenciais de ação mais intensos que a porção infra-umbilical; os potenciais de ação mais intensos ocorreram na flexão do tronco e na flexão do tronco com rotação homo e heterolateral. A porção anterior do músculo oblíquo externo apresentou potenciais de ação mais intensos que a porção posterior; os potenciais de ação mais intensos ocorreram na flexão do tronco e na flexão do tronco com rotação heterolateral. Em ambos os músculos, os potenciais de ação mais intensos ocorreram entre 45 e 60 graus de flexão do tronco; as crianças do Grupo I apresentaram potenciais de ação mais intensos do que as do Grupo II; o exercício de elevação das pernas flexionadas não se mostrou eficaz para o fortalecimento da musculatura abdominal analisada / Abstract: The objective of this work was to study through in the electromyography the upper and lower umbilical rectus abdominis and the anterior and posterior parts of the external oblique muscles of children 8 to 10 years old. The children studied practice artistic and rhythmical gymnastic sports at the training and learning levei and the study was made during abdominal exercise in the dorsal decubitus position on the ground and on a board. The children were divided into 2 groups: Group I - ten already trained children; Group II ¿ nineteen learners. The participants in Group I practiced an average of 5 times a week and those in Group II practiced 2 times a week. The exercises analyzed were: on the ground - lifting the legs 30 cm, 20 cm and 10 cm high with the knees flexed 90 degrees; flexing the trunk while maintaining the legs elevated and the knees flexed; flexing the trunk with homo and heterolateral rotation of the trunk while maintaining the legs elevated and the knees flexed; on the board -flexing the trunk with the knees flexed 90 degrees on top of the board inclined 30 cm, 20 cm and 10 cm; flexing the trunk with rotation of the trunk homo and heterolateral with the knees flexed on the board inclined 30 cm, 20 cm and 10cm. The results showed that the superior umbilical part of the rectus abdominal muscle presented more intense action potential than the inferior-umbilical part; the more intense action potential occurred at the flexing of the trunk and at the flexing of the trunk with homo and heterolateral rotation. The anterior part of the external oblique muscle presented more intense action potential intense than the posterior part; the more intense action potential occurred at the flexing of the trunk and at the flexing of the trunk with heterolateral rotation. In both of the muscles the more intense action potential occurred between 45 and 60 degrees of flexing the trunk; the children in Group I presented more intense action potential than those in Group II; the exercise of lifting the flexed legs did not prove efficient for strengthening the analyzed abdominal muscle structure / Mestrado / Atividade Fisica e Adaptação / Mestre em Educação Física

O músculo reto do abdome é um importante músculo da parede abdominal, responsável pela estabilização e função da coluna, tanto em atividades atléticas quanto em atividades cotidianas. Entretanto, pouco se conhece sobre o controle neuromotor de tal estrutura em atividades voluntárias, como os exercícios abdominais, e como as diferentes tarefas agem na ativação segmentada das porções musculares do músculo reto do abdome. Em geral, a presente dissertação teve como objetivo investigar o controle neuromotor do músculo reto do abdome em diferentes tarefas voluntárias através de quatro experimentos. O primeiro experimento teve como objetivo descrever as características morfológicas do músculo reto do abdome, em particular sua área de secção transversa, ao longo do comprimento longitudinal do músculo, utilizando as imagens do projeto homem visível (NLM). O segundo experimento objetivou o mapeamento dos pontos motores para cada porção muscular. O terceiro experimento investigou o controle neuromotor das diversas porções musculares em tarefas isométricas de baixa intensidade. E por fim, o quarto experimento investigou o comportamento das porções musculares em diferentes tarefas isométricas em condição de fadiga neuromuscular. Baseado nos experimentos apresentados neste estudo pode-se concluir que o músculo reto do abdome é uma estrutura extremamente complexa em sua arquitetura, sendo caracterizada por diversas porções musculares que se interconectam através de aponeuroses tendíneas, onde, possivelmente nenhuma fibra muscular atravesse seus ventres. Devido a tal consideração, supõe-se que o controle das diversas porções, por sua independência anatômica, dependa de um aporte nervoso diferenciado para o controle motor. Assim, podem-se definir pelo menos um nervo para cada porção em ambos os ventres. Devido a tais considerações, se torna plausível considerar um controle neuromotor diferenciado de cada porção muscular, mas os experimentos relacionados à ativação muscular de baixa intensidade mostram um controle central compartilhado por todos os ventres e um ganho associado à tarefa para cada porção de forma distinta. Os resultados do experimento de indução de fadiga demonstraram diferenças no espectro, mostrando diferenças no controle neuromuscular em função das tarefas, mas não apresentou diferenças na análise temporal. Conclui-se, então, que existe uma ativação seletiva para cada porção muscular, embora não se consiga ativar apenas uma região do ventre muscular, em função do controle central associado. Deste modo, parece que a alteração da tarefa possui valor na alteração da ênfase para cada porção muscular, mas questiona-se o valor deste ganho para objetivos relacionados à força ou hipertrofia muscular. / The rectus abdominis is an important muscle of the abdominal wall; it is responsible for the stabilization and function of the spine, as to athletic activity as daily activity. However, we do not have enough knowledge about the neuromotor control of this structure in voluntary activities, like abdominal exercises and how different tasks alter the segmental activation of the different parts of the abdomen. The aims of the present dissertation were to investigate the neuromotor control of the rectus abdominis in different voluntary tasks by four experiments. The aim of the first experiment was to describe morphologic characteristics of the rectus abdominis, in particular its transverse cross section, using the visible human project (NLM). The aim of the second experiment was to define motor points to each portion of the rectus abdominis. The aim of the third experiment was to investigate the neuromotor control of the each portion of the rectus abdominis in isometric low intensity tasks. And, the fourth experiment investigated the behavior of the different portions of the rectus abdominis in different isometric tasks on neuromuscular fatigue. The present experiments showed that the rectus abdominis muscle has an extremely complex structure in its architecture, defined by different portions without connection one each other and it is defined by a lot of portions that connect by tendinius aponeuroses. It could be considered that the control of the different portions, by your anatomic characteristics, have different nerves to each portion that facilitates the motor control. We found at least one nerve to each portion. But it is possible that exist different neuromotor control to each portion, so the next experiments related to low intensity of the muscular activation showed a central control shared by all portions and the gain associated to each task. The result of the fatigue experiment showed differences on spectral analysis and changes in neuromuscular control by the tasks, but did not present differences on temporal analysis. In conclusion, there is selective activation to each muscular portion; however, it could not be activated only one portion of the rectus abdominis to a specific task. Therefore, it can be that the alteration of the task has an important value on each muscular portion, but it does not know if this gain has any value to strength and hypertrophy.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-12-06T23:46:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2013 / A deformidade musculo-aponeurotica da parede abdominal decorrente da gestacao e multidirecional. A tecnica mais utilizada para sua correcao e a plicatura da aponeurose anterior. Seria desejavel obter ao mesmo tempo uma correcao transversal e longitudinal. O objetivo deste estudo e avaliar o eixo vertical do plano musculo-aponeurotico apos o uso da sutura triangular na correcao da diastase de retos. Metodos: Foram selecionadas 31 pacientes com deformidade abdominal tipo III/A de Nahas, divididas em dois grupos (GST- grupo sutura triangular e GSC u grupo sutura continua). Estas foram submetidas a abdominoplastia e correcao da diastase dos musculos retos com plicatura longitudinal mediana, feita entre dois clipes metalicos implantados. Os dois tipos de sutura foram realizados em todas as pacientes. No GST, apos a realizacao da sutura continua, foi realizada e mantida a sutura triangular e o oposto ocorreu no GSC. Apos cada sutura a distancia entre os clipes foi medida. Foram realizadas radiografias de abdome tres semanas e seis meses apos a cirurgia quando foi medida a distancia entre os clipes. Os dados foram comparados utilizando-se Analise de Variancia de Friedman e teste de Wilcoxon. Resultados: A sutura triangular promoveu reducao significante do eixo vertical da aponeurose quando comparada a sutura continua e a situacao sem sutura no periodo intraoperatorio (Wilcoxon p<0,001). Esta diferenca manteve-se nas radiografias de seis meses (Wilcoxon p<0,001). Conclusao: A sutura triangular produziu encurtamento do eixo vertical do plano musculo-aponeurotico da parede abdominal em longo prazo / Background: Diastasis recti secondary to pregnancy is multidirectional. Plication of the anterior rectus sheath is the most widely used technique for correction of this condition. However, it would be desirable to simultaneously perform the transverse and longitudinal repair of the defect. The aim of this study was to assess changes in the length of the musculoaponeurotic layer after diastasis recti repair using triangular sutures. Methods: Thirty-one women with Nahas’ type III/A deformity were divided into two groups: the triangular suture (TS) group and the continuous suture (CS) group. All patients underwent conventional abdominoplasty and diastasis recti repair with medial longitudinal plication performed between two metal clips. The two types of suture were used in both groups. In the TS group, after a continuous suture was performed and removed, triangular sutures were used and maintained in place. In the CS group, the order of suture placement was reversed. The distance between clips was measured before and immediately after suturing, and at 3 weeks and 6 months postoperatively using plain abdominal radiographs. Statistical analysis was conducted with the Friedman analysis of variance and Wilcoxon test. Results: The use of triangular sutures significantly reduced the length of the aponeurosis compared with both the intraoperative Abstract | 87 situation without suture (P < 0.001) and the use of continuous suture (intraoperatively and 6 months after surgery; P < 0.001). Conclusion: The repair of diastasis recti using triangular sutures resulted in vertical shortening of musculoaponeurotic layer immediately after the procedure and in the long term. / BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertações

O músculo reto do abdome é um importante músculo da parede abdominal, responsável pela estabilização e função da coluna, tanto em atividades atléticas quanto em atividades cotidianas. Entretanto, pouco se conhece sobre o controle neuromotor de tal estrutura em atividades voluntárias, como os exercícios abdominais, e como as diferentes tarefas agem na ativação segmentada das porções musculares do músculo reto do abdome. Em geral, a presente dissertação teve como objetivo investigar o controle neuromotor do músculo reto do abdome em diferentes tarefas voluntárias através de quatro experimentos. O primeiro experimento teve como objetivo descrever as características morfológicas do músculo reto do abdome, em particular sua área de secção transversa, ao longo do comprimento longitudinal do músculo, utilizando as imagens do projeto homem visível (NLM). O segundo experimento objetivou o mapeamento dos pontos motores para cada porção muscular. O terceiro experimento investigou o controle neuromotor das diversas porções musculares em tarefas isométricas de baixa intensidade. E por fim, o quarto experimento investigou o comportamento das porções musculares em diferentes tarefas isométricas em condição de fadiga neuromuscular. Baseado nos experimentos apresentados neste estudo pode-se concluir que o músculo reto do abdome é uma estrutura extremamente complexa em sua arquitetura, sendo caracterizada por diversas porções musculares que se interconectam através de aponeuroses tendíneas, onde, possivelmente nenhuma fibra muscular atravesse seus ventres. Devido a tal consideração, supõe-se que o controle das diversas porções, por sua independência anatômica, dependa de um aporte nervoso diferenciado para o controle motor. Assim, podem-se definir pelo menos um nervo para cada porção em ambos os ventres. Devido a tais considerações, se torna plausível considerar um controle neuromotor diferenciado de cada porção muscular, mas os experimentos relacionados à ativação muscular de baixa intensidade mostram um controle central compartilhado por todos os ventres e um ganho associado à tarefa para cada porção de forma distinta. Os resultados do experimento de indução de fadiga demonstraram diferenças no espectro, mostrando diferenças no controle neuromuscular em função das tarefas, mas não apresentou diferenças na análise temporal. Conclui-se, então, que existe uma ativação seletiva para cada porção muscular, embora não se consiga ativar apenas uma região do ventre muscular, em função do controle central associado. Deste modo, parece que a alteração da tarefa possui valor na alteração da ênfase para cada porção muscular, mas questiona-se o valor deste ganho para objetivos relacionados à força ou hipertrofia muscular. / The rectus abdominis is an important muscle of the abdominal wall; it is responsible for the stabilization and function of the spine, as to athletic activity as daily activity. However, we do not have enough knowledge about the neuromotor control of this structure in voluntary activities, like abdominal exercises and how different tasks alter the segmental activation of the different parts of the abdomen. The aims of the present dissertation were to investigate the neuromotor control of the rectus abdominis in different voluntary tasks by four experiments. The aim of the first experiment was to describe morphologic characteristics of the rectus abdominis, in particular its transverse cross section, using the visible human project (NLM). The aim of the second experiment was to define motor points to each portion of the rectus abdominis. The aim of the third experiment was to investigate the neuromotor control of the each portion of the rectus abdominis in isometric low intensity tasks. And, the fourth experiment investigated the behavior of the different portions of the rectus abdominis in different isometric tasks on neuromuscular fatigue. The present experiments showed that the rectus abdominis muscle has an extremely complex structure in its architecture, defined by different portions without connection one each other and it is defined by a lot of portions that connect by tendinius aponeuroses. It could be considered that the control of the different portions, by your anatomic characteristics, have different nerves to each portion that facilitates the motor control. We found at least one nerve to each portion. But it is possible that exist different neuromotor control to each portion, so the next experiments related to low intensity of the muscular activation showed a central control shared by all portions and the gain associated to each task. The result of the fatigue experiment showed differences on spectral analysis and changes in neuromuscular control by the tasks, but did not present differences on temporal analysis. In conclusion, there is selective activation to each muscular portion; however, it could not be activated only one portion of the rectus abdominis to a specific task. Therefore, it can be that the alteration of the task has an important value on each muscular portion, but it does not know if this gain has any value to strength and hypertrophy.

The aim of this study is to compare anthropometric parameters of the trunk between a group of patients with low back pain and a control group without pain. These findings would support the theory that low back pain may be caused by non-ideal postural-locomotion development in childhood, resulting in measurable morphological variations in adulthood. 60 individuals with low back pain (patients) and 60 healthy volunteers (controls) participated in the study. It was confirmed that the distance between the jugular fossa and xiphoid process is shorter in relation to the body height in the group of patients versus the control group. Conversely, there was a significantly longer distance between the xiphoid and symphysis relative to the body height among the patients. Furthermore, diastasis of rectus abdominis muscle was observed more frequently in the low back pain group. These findings suggest that patients with low back pain present with trunk morphological differences when compared with a matching healthy group. Keywords Low back pain, jugular fossa to xiphoid process distance, xiphoid to symphysis distance, rectus abdominis muscle diastasis, motor development, morphology, anthropometry