Influence of Slashpipe Exercise on Symmetrical Contraction of Trunk Muscle in Normal Adults

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of slashpipe exercise on reducing the thickness of the left and right external oblique, internal oblique, transverse abdominis, erector spinae, and multifidus muscles.METHODS: A total of 29 healthy adult men and women were included in the study. They performed trunk flexion in the supine position and trunk extension in the prone position with a slashpipe and weight bar. The external oblique, internal oblique, and transverse abdominis muscles were measured in the supine position, while the erector spinae and multifidus muscles were measured in the prone position. The data were analyzed using the SPSS ver 21.0 statistical program. The difference in thickness between the right and left sides of the trunk muscle was analyzed by repeated measures analysis. The statistical significance level was set to p<0.05.RESULTS: The results showed that the slashpipe exercise reduced significantly the difference in thickness of the oblique internus and erector spinae muscles compared to the weight bar exercise.CONCLUSION: The chaotic fluidity of the fluid filled inside the slashpipe could be used as sensory feedback information on body mal-alignment, which would have positively affected the symmetrical contraction of the trunk muscles as a trigger for self-correction. Therefore, it will have a useful effect not only on the health of the general public, but also on low back patients and athletes with muscle asymmetry.