Effect of Horse Riding Simulator Exercise on Thickness of Transverse Abdominis in Healthy Adults

Purpose: This study examined the effects of horse riding simulator exercise on the thickness changes in the transverse abdominis in normal adults.Methods: Forty-five healthy adults were recruited and randomized to a horseback riding simulation exercise group (n=15), a sling exercise group (n=15), and a trunk stabilization exercise group (n=15). A horseback riding simulator offers the indoor experience of horseback riding and mimics the rhythmic movement of horseback riding, thereby provided a virtual environment, such as riding a real horse on the front screen. The velocity of the horse riding simulator exercise was regulated within the subject’s ability to control the exercise on the horse riding simulator. A sling exercise group performed sling exercise under the inspection of the experimenter. In the trunk stabilization exercise group, the subjects were instructed to perform the exercise accurately and pause the session when pain occurred during the intervention. The subjects in each group carried out the interventions three times per week for six weeks. The thickness of the transverse abdominis was measured using a pressure biofeedback unit and the ultrasound.Results: Significant differences in the thickness of transverse abdominis within the groups were observed between before and after the interventions. On the other hand, there were no differences in the parameters among the groups.Conclusion: Horse riding simulator exercise can be an alternative to trunk stabilization exercise by increasing the thickness of the transverse abdominis in healthy adults.