All this TA talk is starting to sound familiar...
There is a guy in Australia by the name of Peter Sullivan who (with a
team) has done much research on TA and it's contribution to trunk
stabilisation --> LBP relief... (Maybe? I can't be too sure now as I
haven't had a chance to fully read artciles published by his team).
He came and spoke to us in one of our lectures, and he sounded great!
However, a lot of what he was speaking about was over our heads.
*laughs*.
>From what I can guage, most of the talk about TA and the implications
of strengthening / aquiring 'proper' activation, concerned very low
strengths and long duration of contraction. (Hence not exactly fitting
your example of tightening your abdomen when rowing, which by contrast
requires quite rapid and strong contractions of pretty much all
abdominals - particularly involving lots of rotation).
We were 'trained' (shown might be a more appropriate word) how to
instruct an individual to isolate TA and maintain a nice contraction,
and many ways to assess how effective they are performing the task.
(Diagnostic US is interesting for this...).
As you can see, I know a little bit but not heaps. If you're
interested, chase up the name 'Sullivan' on some online databases (the
artciles are likely to be found in the AJP), but I'll keep looking
anyway and pass on some references later in the week.
Hang in there everyone, we'll get to the bottom of this!
Luke Harris,
2nd year PT Student (Curtin).
** Dr Mel,
** I am new to paddling my solo canoe w/ a double-bladed paddle &
still must remind myself to rotate my body w/ each stroke. When I
activate TA by tightening my abdomen, I rely most on my lower
abdominal mm anteriorly, judging by the area most sore later. When I
don't thus activate TA, but do rotate, I am most sore in my lateral
low lumbar region.
** If I were to coach anyone as new to this as I am I would advise
activating TA. Perhaps you mainly are familiar w/ weightlifters w/
much experience & many years of prior training, which is why the
conscious activation of TA is no longer necessary?
** Sarah
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