title: Correlation between Peak Expiratory Flow and Abdominal Muscle Thickness.
abstract: [Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine whether forced expiration is correlated with abdominal muscle thickness. [Subjects] Twenty-three healthy male volunteers participated in this study. [Methods] The peak expiratory flow (PEF) was obtained using a peak flow meter with subjects in the sitting position. The thicknesses of the right rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, and transverse abdominis muscles were measured using B-mode ultrasonography at the end of a relaxed expiration in the supine position. [Results] Among the abdominal muscles, only the thickness of the external oblique muscle displayed a significant correlation with PEF. [Conclusion] It appears that the thickness of the external oblique muscle might be associated with PEF during forced expiration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare: 288 Matsushima, Kurashiki, Okayama 701-0193, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishida
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare: 288 Matsushima, Kurashiki, Okayama 701-0193, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kobara
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare: 288 Matsushima, Kurashiki, Okayama 701-0193, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Osaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare: 288 Matsushima, Kurashiki, Okayama 701-0193, Japan.
authors.forename: Tadanobu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suehiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare: 288 Matsushima, Kurashiki, Okayama 701-0193, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomotaka
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare: 288 Matsushima, Kurashiki, Okayama 701-0193, Japan.
authors.forename: Chiharu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kurozumi
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare: 288 Matsushima, Kurashiki, Okayama 701-0193, Japan.
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watanabe
keywords: Abdominal muscle thickness; Peak expiratory flow; Ultrasound imaging