[alophysio]

Hi linbin,

I would have to disagree. I have taught many people to isolate the obliques from TrAb - that is why it is such a small contraction.

This can be using real-time ultrasound however it is not essential.

It is the whole "dog-and-poodle" argument - a Poodle is always a dog but a dog is not always a Poodle. In other words (assuming the other components of the inner unit muscles - diaphragm, multifidus and pelvic floor - are intact) TrAb isolated activity before movement initiation will usually result in "core stability" (Poodle is always a dog) but oblique activity without isolation of the TrAb does not always result in "core stability" (Dog is not always a Poodle).

Sometimes teaching a person obliques gets lucky and the person will automatically assume the correct activation sequences but other times they won't and will just get worse.

Lastly, i don't think we do these exercises to make the patient aware of the "neutral zone". Perhaps you meant neutral joint position. The neutral zone is the loose packed position before non-contractile structures like joint capsules and ligaments start to tension up. We do the core stability exercises to protect the joint in all positions through its ROM.

Cheers!

BTW, Merry Christmas to you all!