ArticleHealthcare (Basel, Switzerland)2026
Multimodal Validation of an sEMG-Based Visual Biofeedback System for Deep Abdominal Muscle Activation in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Proof-of-Concept Trial.
Article in Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundPortable biofeedback technologies are increasingly used in rehabilitation; however, the validity of surface electromyography (sEMG) as a surrogate indicator of deep abdominal muscle function remains unclear. This study aimed to validate a portable sEMG-based visual biofeedback system by examining its relationship with ultrasound-derived measures of deep abdominal muscle activation.
methodsTwenty-nine healthy adults were randomly assigned to a Visual Biofeedback group (n = 14) or a Verbal Feedback group (n = 15). Both groups performed a standardized 2-week core stabilization program. Muscle activation of the deep abdominal muscle complex (transversus abdominis-internal oblique; TrA-IO) and external oblique (EO) was measured using sEMG (%MVIC), while ultrasound imaging was used to assess transversus abdominis thickness and contractile activity (ADIM-Rest index). Between-group differences and correlations between EMG and ultrasound variables were analyzed.
resultsThe Visual Biofeedback group demonstrated significantly greater improvements in TrA-IO activation and in the preferential activation ratio (TrA-IO/EO) compared to the Verbal group (
conclusionsPortable sEMG-based visual biofeedback demonstrated physiological relevance by reflecting ultrasound-derived changes in deep abdominal muscle function. These findings support the use of sEMG as a practical surrogate tool for monitoring deep core muscle activation and highlight the potential of portable biofeedback systems in scalable and accessible rehabilitation.
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