Reliability of real-time ultrasound for the assessment of transversus abdominis function.
Transversus abdominis (TrA) has now been established as a key muscle for the stabilization of the lumbar spine and sacroiliac joints. Significantly, dysfunction of this muscle has also been implicated in low back pain. Real-time ultrasound (US) is a non-invasive procedure that has the potential to evaluate objectively the function of TrA.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate M-mode US as a reliable method of assessing TrA function.


METHODS
M-mode US was used to measure the width of TrA as subjects drew in their lower abdominal wall at a controlled speed to a target depth. Eleven subjects were imaged.


RESULTS
the measures of TrA width were reliable and ranged between 3.14mm relaxed and 6.35mm contracted. The standard error of measurement ranged between 0.18mm and 0.57mm.


CONCLUSIONS
M-mode US provides a reliable non-invasive measure of a controlled contraction of TrA.
Kidd
Adrian W
AW
University of Queensland, Department of Physiotherapy Brisbane, Australia. kidd_adrian@hotmail.com
Magee
Scott
S
Richardson
Carolyn A
CA