Lower abdominal muscles injury

The abdominal musculature, together with back muscles, acts as the main active trunk stabilizer. It supports the erect human stance, secures safe performance of every human movement by keeping the trunk and core solid and firm. Timely and proper activation of abdominal muscles secures efficient and safe movement performance. Its proper activation and cooperation of all abdominal wall muscles is of extreme importance in spine and other body parts injury prevention. Abdominla muscles are also critical for human breathing functions and therefore their role takes on even greater significance.

The complex know as „abdominal musculature“ is built formed by muscle groups which are laid over the abdominal cavity in several layers. Through the middle passes the m. rectus adbominis, whose starting point are ribs parallel with the sternum (chest bone) and its finish point is on the anterior of the pelvis. Rectus abdominis has the role of bending the chest cavity or pelvis in relation to eachother, it stabilizes the ribcage, keeps pressure on the abdomnal cavity organs and holds them in place. External and internal obliques, m. obliquus externus et internus abdominis, situated laterally on the abdomen, have either a descendng or ascending direction diagonally from the back toward the groin area and lateral part of the pelvis. Their function is to work in synergy during chest or pelvis tilt, ie. bending and to actively provide contralateral trunk rotation. Transverse muscle, m. transversus abdominis, pertains to the deepest layer of abdominal muscles, situated transversely on the lateral part of trunk. Its fibers lay horizontaly from the inner edges of 7-12th ribs to the upper lateral edge of pelvis and fascia on the back. This muscle constricts the chest cavity, it s active during exhale and it decreases the abdominal cavity volume.

Inefficiency and weakness of abdominal muscles can lead to difficulties with posture, breathing problems, intestinal organs or vertebral disc herniation, groin area problems, upper leg muscle injuries, lower back problems, inguinal canal inflammation, etc.  Lower parts of abdominal musculature are often neglected or inproperly strenghtened which leads to problems in that region. Other parts of abdominal musculature often tend to be stronger and a disbalance occurs, ledaing to pain in lumbar spine, groin, etc.

Lower abdominal muscle region is of extreme importance for trunk, core and spine stability and they ensure safe and proper positioning of those regions during movement performance.

Therapy with abdominal muscle injuries or inguianla canal inflammation focuses on proper strenghtening of lower abdominal and groin muscles as well as hip flexor, lateral upper leg muscles and hip and pelvis region stretching due to the fact that those parts tend to be very tight and inflexible. Back muscles are also strenghtened, but exercises are more focused on proper posture and movement control than on back muscle strenght. Movement control in general is of extreme importance in either lower abdominal injury prevention or rehabilitation due to the fact that those muscles have a role of stabilizing the core during a great deal of movements.

Prevention: proper strenghtening of all parts and layers of the abdominal muscles, corrective postural and movement control exercises for the core, spine, hip, pelvis, etc.