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Abdominal muscle size and symmetry in normal subjects

Abdominal muscle size and symmetry in normal subjects
Abdominal muscle size and symmetry in normal subjects
This study was undertaken to establish normal reference ranges for abdominal muscle size and symmetry and to examine the effects on these of gender and age. We studied 123 subjects, consisting of 55 men (aged 21-72 years) and 68 women (aged 20-64 years). Real-time ultrasound imaging of the abdominal muscles was performed. Thickness of internal and external oblique (IO, EO), transversus abdominis (TA), and rectus abdominis (RA), and cross-sectional area (CSA) of RA were measured, and absolute and relative muscle thickness (percent total muscle thickness), order of thickness, and symmetry (percent difference between sides) were determined. Males had significantly larger muscles than females and size was poorly correlated with age. The pattern of relative muscle thickness was RA > IO > EO > TA. Symmetry for total absolute thickness of all three lateral muscles was 8%-9% (mean) but for individual muscles there was asymmetry of absolute size (13%-24%), whereas relative thickness was symmetrical for all muscles. These findings provide robust reference data for the abdominal muscles in normal males and females in order to enable comparison with clinical groups to assess abnormalities and establish sensitivity for evaluating the effectiveness of interventions.
0148-639X
320-326
Rankin, Gabrielle
b76d6bc7-ce92-46bc-987a-26d73a1187f3
Stokes, Maria
71730503-70ce-4e67-b7ea-a3e54579717f
Newham, Dianne J.
437fa944-e15a-49a0-8763-e65ab086c457
Rankin, Gabrielle
b76d6bc7-ce92-46bc-987a-26d73a1187f3
Stokes, Maria
71730503-70ce-4e67-b7ea-a3e54579717f
Newham, Dianne J.
437fa944-e15a-49a0-8763-e65ab086c457

Rankin, Gabrielle, Stokes, Maria and Newham, Dianne J. (2006) Abdominal muscle size and symmetry in normal subjects. Muscle & Nerve, 34 (3), 320-326. (doi:10.1002/mus.20589).

Record type: Article

Abstract

This study was undertaken to establish normal reference ranges for abdominal muscle size and symmetry and to examine the effects on these of gender and age. We studied 123 subjects, consisting of 55 men (aged 21-72 years) and 68 women (aged 20-64 years). Real-time ultrasound imaging of the abdominal muscles was performed. Thickness of internal and external oblique (IO, EO), transversus abdominis (TA), and rectus abdominis (RA), and cross-sectional area (CSA) of RA were measured, and absolute and relative muscle thickness (percent total muscle thickness), order of thickness, and symmetry (percent difference between sides) were determined. Males had significantly larger muscles than females and size was poorly correlated with age. The pattern of relative muscle thickness was RA > IO > EO > TA. Symmetry for total absolute thickness of all three lateral muscles was 8%-9% (mean) but for individual muscles there was asymmetry of absolute size (13%-24%), whereas relative thickness was symmetrical for all muscles. These findings provide robust reference data for the abdominal muscles in normal males and females in order to enable comparison with clinical groups to assess abnormalities and establish sensitivity for evaluating the effectiveness of interventions.

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Published date: 1 September 2006

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 42007
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/42007
ISSN: 0148-639X
PURE UUID: 83589eed-620b-40ec-9f25-4264f64ff225
ORCID for Maria Stokes: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-4204-0890

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 30 Oct 2006
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 03:30

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Contributors

Author: Gabrielle Rankin
Author: Maria Stokes ORCID iD
Author: Dianne J. Newham

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