The Impact of Deep Muscle Training on the Quality of Posture and Breathing

ABSTRACT

Postural control and breathing are mechanically and neuromuscularly interdependent. Both systems– of spinal stability and respiration– involve the diaphragm, transversus abdominis, intercostal muscles, internal oblique muscles and pelvic floor muscles. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of exercises activating deep stabilizer muscles on postural control and quality of breathing movements. Eighteen volunteers (25,7 ± 3,5) were recruited from the general population. All the subjects implemented an exercise program activating deep muscles. Head, pelvic and trunk positions in the sagittal and frontal planes were assessed with the photogrammetric method. Breathing movements were estimated with the respiratory inductive plethysmography. The results indicate that the use of deep muscle training contributed to a significant change in the position of the body in the sagittal plane (p = 0.008) and the increase in the amplitude of breathing (p = 0.001).

Keywords:

• motor control
• movement
• multisegment movement
• muscle

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors would like to thank Dr. Tadeusz Mazur for his helpful suggestions and comments on an earlier version of the manuscript. The protocol for this study was approved by the local bioethics committee (No.104/KBL/OIL/2014). All the participants gave their written informed consent prior to participation.