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Causal effect of intra-abdominal pressure on maximal voluntary isometric hip extension torque

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European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) has been recently shown to be associated specifically with maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVC) torque of hip extension, although the causal relationship remains unclear. The present study aimed to elucidate whether IAP has a causal effect on hip extension MVC torque.

Methods

IAP during hip extension MVC was changed by controlling the lung volume (i.e., depth of inspiration). Twelve healthy males conducted MVCs of hip extension during breath-hold at full inspiration (inspiratory condition) or expiration (expiratory condition), or during normal breath-hold (normal condition). IAP during MVCs was measured a pressure transducer placed in the rectum.

Results

The IAP during hip extension MVC was significantly higher in inspiratory condition (132.0 ± 46.1 mmHg) than in the other two conditions and also higher in normal condition (104.6 ± 35.9 mmHg) than in expiratory condition (77.0 ± 39.1 mmHg). The hip extension MVC torque was significantly higher in inspiratory condition (297.7 ± 82.7 N m) than in expiratory condition (266.4 ± 84.5 N m). In each condition, the hip extension MVC torque correlated with IAP during the MVC task.

Conclusion

The current results suggest that IAP has a positive causal effect on hip extension MVC torque and that a sufficient increase in IAP directly leads to an enhancement of hip extension MVC torque.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

AEMG:

Average amplitude of electromyogram

BF:

Biceps femoris

CV:

Coefficient of variation

EMG:

Electromyogram

ES:

Erector spinae

GM:

Gluteus maximus

IAP:

Intra-abdominal pressure

ICC:

Intra-class coefficient

MVC:

Maximal voluntary isometric contraction

OE:

Oblique external

OI:

Oblique internal

RA:

Rectus abdominis

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Acknowledgements

The authors do not have any financial and personal relationship with other people or organizations that could inappropriately bias this work. The authors would like to thank all the participants in this study.

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Correspondence to Naokazu Miyamoto.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Communicated by William J. Kraemer.

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Tayashiki, K., Mizuno, F., Kanehisa, H. et al. Causal effect of intra-abdominal pressure on maximal voluntary isometric hip extension torque. Eur J Appl Physiol 118, 93–99 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3748-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3748-0

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