title: Differences in abdominal muscle activation during coughing between smokers and nonsmokers.
abstract: [Purpose] The purpose of this study was to compare the activity of the abdominal muscles during coughing between smokers and nonsmokers. [Subjects] A total of 30 healthy adults (15 smokers, 15 nonsmokers) participated. [Methods] The percentage maximal voluntary isometric contraction values (%MVIC) of the rectus abdominis (RA), external abdominal oblique (EO), and internal abdominal oblique (IO) and transversus abdominis (TrA) were measured using surface electromyography. [Results] The %MVIC of the IO and TrA statistically significantly differed and the %MVIC of IO and TrA was found to be higher during coughing in nonsmokers compared with during coughing in smokers. [Conclusion] The activity of the deep abdominal muscles in nonsmokers was also higher than that of smokers during coughing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Pusan National University Hospital, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Hyung
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Sciences, Catholic University of Pusan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Rour
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Sciences, Catholic University of Pusan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Laurentius Jongsoon
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Abdominal muscle activation; Cough; Smoking