University at Buffalo: Reporter


Research&Technology ­
Research shows division of labor for muscle fibers: Findings may affect physical therapies

By LOIS BAKER
News Services Editor
Physical therapy researchers at UB have shown for the first time that abdominal-muscle fibers have a specific division of labor, with different fibers answering the call to action, depending on the task. The findings in this study shed new light on how abdominal muscles function during breathing and other tasks, and point to the need for new therapies that enlist the appropriate specific muscle fibers for maximum rehabilitation.

"We used to think that all abdominal-muscle fibers played an equal role in all tasks the abdominals perform, such as moving and breathing," said Frank J. Cerny, UB associate professor of physical therapy and exercise science and lead author on the study. "Knowing that sit-ups strengthen the abdominals, we may have recommended sit-ups as a therapy to improve breathing capability.

"Now we know that doing sit-ups is not going to help with breathing, but a therapy such as breathing against resistance would. We know that with abdominal muscles, therapy must be very specific to the task, because few muscle fibers perform multiple tasks."

Cerny presented the results May 30 at the annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine in Cincinnati.

Also participating in the research were Threethambal Puckree, UB doctoral candidate in exercise science who has since received the degree, and Beverly Bishop, UB Distinguished Teaching Professor of physiology.

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