Abstract

Objectives. To investigate the effect of preoperative graduated abdominal exercises and Russian stimulation on the strength of abdominal muscles after abdominoplasty. Methods. Sixty patients before abdominoplasty were enrolled in this study after the assessment of their eligibility, their age ranged from 20 to 45 years, they were randomly distributed into four equal groups. The ultrasonography was used to evaluate abdominal muscle thickness as an indicator for muscle strength on 4 occasions, initial assessment, pre-operative assessment, 2 Months post-operative assessment, and finally 4 Months post-operative assessment. For study group (A); received only graduated abdominal exercises, group (B); received only Russian stimulation on abdominal muscles, group (c); received graduated abdominal exercises and Russian stimulation on abdominal muscles, all participants in the study groups received the treatment protocol for 30 min., 3 times/week for 6 successive weeks preoperatively for control group (D); were instructed to presume in normal activities of daily living preoperatively. Results. Post-treatment findings, revealed a statistically significant increase in abdominal muscle strength preoperatively and postoperatively in the three study groups compared to the control group in favor of group C. Conclusion. The pre-operative graduated abdominal exercises and Russian current stimulation has a significant effect in strengthening abdominal muscles after abdominoplasty.

Key words:

abdominoplasty, abdominal exercises, ultrasonography, muscle strength, russian stimulation