The effects of bridge exercise with the abdominal drawing-in maneuver on an unstable surface on the abdominal muscle thickness of healthy adults

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of a bridgeexercise with an abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM) performed with different surfaceconditions on abdominal muscle thickness. [Subjects] Thirty subjects were randomly dividedinto an unstable bridge exercise group (UBE group, n=15) and a stable bridge exercisegroup (SBE group, n=15). [Methods] After 6 weeks of performing bridge exercisesaccompanied by ADIM, the change in the muscle thicknesses of the transverse abdominis(TrA) and internal oblique abdominis (IOA) muscles was assessed using ultrasonography.[Results] After 6 weeks of exercise, the TrA was significantly altered in the SBEG, andthe TrA and IOA were both significantly changed in the UBEG. [Conclusion] When performingbridge exercises to increase the Tra and the IO muscle thicknesses, exercising on anunstable surface is recommended.Key words: Transversus abdominis, Bridge exercise, Abdominal drawing-in maneuver