• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.528-533
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• 2012

Background Rectus abdominis muscle and abdominal subcutaneous fat tissue are useful for reconstruction of the chest wall, and abdominal, vaginal, and perianal defects. Thus, preoperative evaluation of rectus abdominis muscle and abdominal subcutaneous fat tissue is important. This is a retrospective study that measured the thickness of rectus abdominis muscle and abdominal subcutaneous fat tissue using computed tomography (CT) and analyzed the correlation with the patients' age, gestational history, history of laparotomy, and body mass index (BMI). Methods A total of 545 adult women were studied. Rectus abdominis muscle and abdominal subcutaneous fat thicknesses were measured with abdominopelvic CT. The results were analyzed to determine if the thickness of the rectus abdominis muscle or subcutaneous fat tissue was significantly correlated with age, number of pregnancies, history of laparotomy, and BMI. Results Rectus abdominis muscle thicknesses were 9.58 mm (right) and 9.73 mm (left) at the xiphoid level and 10.26 mm (right) and 10.26 mm (left) at the umbilicus level. Subcutaneous fat thicknesses were 24.31 mm (right) and 23.39 mm (left). Rectus abdominismuscle thickness decreased with age and pregnancy. History of laparotomy had a significant negative correlation with rectus abdominis muscle thickness at the xiphoid level. Abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness had no correlation with age, number of pregnancies, or history of laparotomy. Conclusions Age, gestational history, and history of laparotomy influenced rectus abdominis muscle thickness but did not influence abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness. These results are clinically valuable for planning a rectus abdominis muscle flap and safe elevation of muscle flap.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.133-135
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• 2020

Intercostal nerve injury is known to occur during thoracotomy; however, rectus abdominis muscle atrophy has rarely been reported. We describe a 52-year-old man who underwent primary closure of esophageal perforation and lung decortication via left thoracotomy. He was discharged 40 days postoperatively without any complications. He noticed an abdominal bulge 2 months later, and computed tomography revealed left rectus abdominis muscle atrophy. We report thoracotomy induced denervation causing rectus abdominis muscle atrophy.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 1995

Severe upper and lower extremity trauma may result in soft tissue loss with exposed bone and the subsequence of risk of chronic osteomyelitis or malunion of fracture fragments. Such injuries present a major reconstructive problem. But Since the introduction of microsugical technique, free muscle and myocutaneous flaps were employed to provide coverage of severely injured defects. Since Tai and Hasegawa(1974) first reported a breast reconstruction using by rectus abdominis myocuraneous flap, the free rectus myocutaneous flap has been widely employed for breast reconstuction, head and neck reconstruction, and extremity reconstruction in these days. The authors present their successful experience with free rectus abdominis muscle and rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps for upper and low extremity reconstruction. From Nov. 94, to May 95, Five cases of severely injured extremites due to trauma or contact burn were treated with free rectus abdominis muscle flap or free rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap. All flaps except 1 case were survived without severe complications. As free muscle or myocutaneous flap, the free rectus abdominis flap has the advantages of a reliable pedicle, easy dissection, and an acceptable donor site, so it seems logical to apply the free rectus abdominis flap to apply in upper and lower extremity reconstruction.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.159-166
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• 2023

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to compare the differences in muscle activity of the rectus abdominis, internal oblique, and external oblique muscles according to abdominal muscle exercise methods such as plank exercise, side plank exercise, and crunch exercise. Methods : This study was conducted with 37 college students. All subjects participating in this study were randomly assigned to the plank exercise group, the side plank exercise group, and the crunch exercise group. The exercise corresponding to each group was performed for a total of 8 weeks. The muscle activity of the abdominal muscles was measured before the experiment, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks, and the rectus abdominis, internal oblique, and external oblique muscles were measured. Results : As a result of comparison according to the period in the change in muscle activity of the abdominal muscles after exercise, the amount of change in muscle activity in all three muscles showed a significant difference. As a result of the post-hoc analysis, the muscle activity value of the internal oblique muscle after 4 weeks in the plank exercise showed a significant difference from the value after 8 weeks. In the side plank exercise, the muscle activity values of the rectus abdominis and external oblique muscles before and after 4 weeks showed significant differences from those after 8 weeks. And in the crunch exercise, the muscle activity value of the rectus abdominis muscle before exercise showed a significant difference from the value after 8 weeks. Conclusion : Plank exercise increases the muscle activity of the rectus abdominis, side plank exercise increases the rectus abdominis and external oblique muscles, and crunch exercise increases the muscle activity of the rectus abdominis. Therefore, it is thought that the stability of the trunk can be improved more efficiently if all three exercises are performed.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.326-328
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• 2011

Purpose: The anatomical anomaly of the rectus abdominis muscle and it's fascia is very rare. No case of the absence of the linea alba below the umbilicus has yet been reported. During breast reconstruction with pedicled TRAM flap, we experienced one case of absence of linea alba. Methods: The patient was a 38-years old female who underwent immediate breast reconstruction with pedicled TRAM flap after Right modified radical mastectomy in June 2010. While the TRAM flap was being elevated, bilateral twitching of the rectus abdominis muscle occurred when electrocautery was applied, and we found the absence of the linea alba below the umbilicus. Results: When the rectus abdominis muscle was exposed, the linea alba below the umbilicus was not observed, and the bilateral rectus abdominis muscle was indistinguishably fused in a gross observation. In addition, bilateral twitching of rectus abdominis muscle was simultaneously observed as one muscle unit when electrocautery was applied. As with both rectus abdominis muscles was bluntly dissected with scissors, the scanty fatty tissues were observed between the both rectus muscles, and the bilateral rectus abdominis muscle was easily separated. The flap was transposed into the corresponding defect to make breast mound. Midline fascia was fixed to the posterior rectus sheath to reconstruct smilar anatomic linea alba. Abdominal defect was reinforced by suturing between remaining anterior rectus sheath. Conclusion: As the unexpected anatomical anomaly may affect the operation outcome, surgeons should be careful when they unexpectedly encounter the anatomical anomaly during an operation. Here, we report a rare case of absence of the linea alba seen at the time of pedicled TRAM flap elevation for breast reconstruction.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.14-21
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• 2017

Background; This study was to investigate effects of distance of muscle activity of 4 sections of rectus abdominis(RS-RA, LS-RA, RI-RA, LI-RA) by the shoulder width(x0.5, x1.0, x1.5) and the angle of the elbow joint($0^{\circ}$, $45^{\circ}$, $90^{\circ}$) Method : This study was conducted on 20 healthy male and 20 female adult. respectively, elbow joints were maintained at $0^{\circ}$, $45^{\circ}$, and $90^{\circ}$ flex postures on The shoulder width is 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 times. at the same time 4 sections of rectus abdominis were measured using EMG with maintaining isometric contraction of the rectus abdominis for 5 seconds. Results; The results were as follows: First, muscle activity of 4 sections of rectus abdominis(RS-RA, LS-RA, RI-RA, LI-RA) by angle of the elbow joint($0^{\circ}$, $45^{\circ}$, $90^{\circ}$) was a statistically significant(p<0.05), Second, muscle activity of 4 sections of rectus abdominis(RS-RA, LS-RA, RI-RA, LI-RA) by the shoulder width(x0.5, x1.0, x1.5) was a statistically non-significant Conclusion; It was found to be most effective to perform arm posture with rectus abdominis muscle strength exercise.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.19-24
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• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of PNF lower extremity flexion pattern on the eletromyographic (EMG) activity in rectus abdominis, internal oblique abdominal, external oblique abdominal, erector spinae. Methods : Twenty-six healthy adults volunteered to participate in this study. Subjects were required complete following two PNF lower extremity patterns; flexion-adduction-external rotation with knee flexion (D1) and flexion-abduction-internal rotation with knee flexion (D2). A paired t-test was used to determine the influence of the PNF two patterns on muscle activity for each muscle and descriptive statistics was used to determine local/global muscle ratio. Results : The D1 pattern was showed significant rectus abdominis (p<.05) and Median of internal oblique/rectus abdominis ratio was 2.23 and internal oblique/external oblique ratio was 1.53. The D2 pattern showed significant erector spinae (p<.05) and Median of internal oblique/rectus abdominis ratio was 3.06 and internal oblique/external oblique ratio was 1.72. Conclusion : The D1 pattern made rectus abdominis activation increase. The D2 pattern made erector spinae activation increase. As compared D1 and D2 pattern on trunk muscle activation, it's will be useful decision making for the trunk muscle strength and stabilization.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.476-482
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• 2017

This study examined the effects of the seat height of a chair on the muscle activity of the erector spinae and rectus abdominis. Thirty healthy subjects were asked to sit on chairs at three different seat heights. The muscle activities of both the erector spinae and rectus abdominis were measured by surface electromyography. The data were analyzed by repeated one way ANOVA and the muscle activity was compared according to the seat height. The alpha level was set to 0.05. The results showed that the muscle activities of the erector spinae were not significantly different among the three seat heights. The muscle activities of the rectus abdominis were significantly different among the three seat heights. Both the rectus abdominis muscle activities were significantly greater in the low seat height than the other seat heights. These results showed that the seat height of the chair affects the muscle activities of the rectus abdominis muscle, leading to musculoskeletal pain, such as low back pain. Therefore, the seat height of a chair with a correct sitting position is important for preventing musculoskeletal pain.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.44-48
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• 2013

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate changes of abdominal muscles thickness according to the angle during the active straight leg raise (ASLR) in young healthy subjects. Design: Cross sectional study. Methods: Twenty-three healthy university students (13 men and 10 women) voluntary participated to the study in S University. The ASLR was performed with the subject lying supine with lower extremities straight on a standard plinth, hands resting on the chest, and elbows on the plinth. When one subject performed ASLR from each angles ($30^{\circ}$, $45^{\circ}$, $60^{\circ}$, $90^{\circ}$), compared changes in the thickness of rectus abdominis muscle. Changes in muscle thickness during ASLR test were assessed with ultrasonography. All subjects were to provide enough time of rest after performed ASLR. Rectus abdominis thickness were measured using rehabilitative ultrasound image. Results: Good quality rectus abdominal muscle activation data were recorded during ASLR. The length changes of linea alba showed significantly shorter in between $0^{\circ}$ and $30^{\circ}$ (p<0.05). The thickness of rectus abdominis muscle were significantly different between $0^{\circ}$ and $30^{\circ}$, $0^{\circ}$ and $45^{\circ}$, $0^{\circ}$ and $60^{\circ}$, $0^{\circ}$ and $90^{\circ}$. According to increase of pelvic angle, the thickness of rectus abdominis muscle were more thickening (p<0.05). Conclusions: This result is changes of abdominal muscles thickness according to the angle during the ASLR.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.124-130
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• 2001

Both of latissimus dorsi and rectus abdominis muscles are workhorse for various reconstructive surgeries. These muscle flaps have been used widely for soft tissue coverage, tissue augmentation, and functional muscle transfer. However, the traditional method for muscle harvest requires a long incision that often results in an unsightly scar and becomes the main concern of the patient. The purpose of this study is to introduce our clinical experience of endoscopic harvest of latissimus dorsi muscle and rectus abdominis muscle, and to make comparison with traditional harvest of these two muscle flaps. Of the 13 rectus abdominis muscles free flaps, 6 muscles were harvested traditionally and 7 muscles were harvested with endoscopic assistance. Of the 21 latissimus dorsi muscle free flaps, 12 muscles were harvested traditionally and 9 muscles were harvested with endoscopic assistence. Follow up period was between 6 months and 24 months. The patients age ranged from 7 to 70 years old. The result revealed no statistically significant differences in the amount of intraoperative bleeding, incidence of postoperative hematoma and seroma, and the incidence of donor-site wound infection. However, patients feel less pain and start earlier and better movement after the operation with endoscopically assisted harvest. This technique is easy to learn, is safe, and can reduce substantially the donor site morbidity comparing traditional harvesting technique.