Preliminary observations on the effect of Kegel exercise and perihip muscle exercise training and combined training on transversus abdominis thickness in healthy young women

BACKGROUND: The objective of our study was to compare the immediate effects of Kegel exercise alone and 2 types of hip muscle group exercise training with different degrees of contraction as well as combined training on thickness of the transversus abdominis (TrA), and to explore the optimal training method for its activation. METHODS: Twenty-eight healthy young women were selected as research participants, all of whom underwent Kegel exercises, mild-to-moderate hip adductor muscle training, and mild-to-moderate hip external rotation muscle training. Musculoskeletal ultrasound was used to measure resting TrA and immediate TrA thickness after each training session and to compare the changes in thickness after different training methods and times. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in the thickness of the TrA after only 1 training session compared to that at rest (P < .01), and after 5 training sessions compared to that at rest and after only 1 training session (P < .01). Comparing the immediate thickness of the TrA in the 5 different training methods, moderate contraction training of the hip external rotation muscle resulted in higher thickness than mild and moderate contraction of the hip adductor muscle and mild contraction of the hip external rotation muscle did (P < .01). CONCLUSION: Choosing any of the 5 training methods for 1 session can instantly activate the TrA, and a combination of the 5 training methods is more effective than training using solely one method. Among the different training methods, moderate contraction training of the hip external rotation muscle group had the best immediate activation effect on the TrA.