Why contracting the belly all the time can be harmful? – 08/08/2023 – Balance and Health

Abdominal muscles are widely exercised and utilized in our body. They play a key role in almost every movement we perform, providing stability, balance and protection to the spine and internal organs.

However, certain health conditions and unnecessary movements throughout the day can make these muscles unbalanced.

If this situation becomes chronic, it can lead to hourglass syndrome, a change in the structure of the abdominal wall that results in the formation of a fold in the middle of the abdomen.

And that’s not all: this change can affect internal organs and other parts of the body if not treated in time.

There are four main causes that lead to imbalance in the function of the abdominal muscles, resulting in this syndrome.

The first is due to certain congenital conditions (such as gastroschisis or omphalocele) that cause the abdominal muscles to develop incorrectly, leading to muscle imbalances.

Another cause is poor posture, which can alter the traditional S-curve of the spine, causing fundamental changes in the tension and function of the abdominal muscles.

Abdominal pain, whether associated with problems with the stomach, liver or gallbladder, can cause a person to involuntarily contract the abdominal muscles in an attempt to relieve discomfort.

Surprisingly, hourglass syndrome can also be associated with body image issues, a topic that has come to the fore more and more.

Some people who feel insecure about their bodies or want a flat stomach may overdo it by “tightening” their abdominal muscles disproportionately to achieve this appearance.

muscle imbalance

When we contract the stomach, we contract the “rectus abdominis” (commonly known as the abs). But as we tend to accumulate more fatty tissue in the lower abdomen, the muscles in the upper part of the stomach tend to become more active. These two aspects cause a fold to form in this area for long periods, with the navel displaced upwards.

Regardless of the cause—and whether it’s voluntary or involuntary—the “pull in” action of the belly also puts more pressure on the lower back and neck. This is because they now have to compensate for changes in the stability of the core.

Compressing the abdomen also reduces the space available for organs in that region of the body.

We can make a simple analogy to illustrate this process. Imagine that the abdomen area resembles a toothpaste package: when squeezing the middle of this package, it is pressed up and down.

This pressure exerted at the top affects breathing, making it difficult for the diaphragm to move downwards, which is the main muscle involved in breathing air.

The pressure in the lower part of the abdomen causes the pelvic muscles to exert greater force, due to the reduction in the volume of the abdominal cavity.

Also, when the abdominal muscles are tight, they absorb less impact, which results in greater pressure on the spine and pelvis. These combined effects can cause discomfort and an imbalance in the function of the abdominal muscles.

While there is little research on the effects of hourglass syndrome on breathing capacity, what can be said is that abdominal dressing (where only part or all of the abdomen is bandaged to aid recovery from a muscle injury or after surgery) shows a 34% rate of decrease in the amount of air exhaled and a 27% to 40% reduction in total lung capacity.

It is not known whether this can lead to long-term changes in a person’s breathing capacity. But in the short term, it can be said to reduce the oxygen that reaches the blood.

In addition, “squeezing” the abdomen can put pressure on the pelvic floor, which will affect the functions of the bladder, uterus and rectum, with consequences such as possible effects on the retention of urine or fecal matter.

For people who already have problems with pelvic floor dysfunction (such as urinary or fecal incontinence), tightening the stomach as an ongoing exercise can make the condition worse.

reversible syndrome

Fortunately, hourglass syndrome is reversible. One way to help is by treating muscle imbalance through exercises that strengthen all the muscles in the body. core, such as planks or bridges, for example. In addition, activities such as yoga or pilates can also be beneficial to relax the muscles.

The development of hourglass syndrome likely occurs gradually over a long period, such as weeks of constantly contracting your belly. So contracting your abdominal muscles occasionally shouldn’t cause any problems.

However, there are many ways to avoid it. If you have unexplained or prolonged abdominal pain, it’s important to see a doctor, not only to prevent muscle imbalances, but also to address the root cause of the pain.

If you tend to pull in your stomach to improve your appearance, exercises that strengthen your muscles and upper back will be helpful to help maintain good posture and make your abdomen less bulging.

*Adam Taylor is Professor and Director of the Center for Learning Clinical Anatomy at Lancaster University (UK)

This article originally appeared on The Conversation academic news site and is republished under a Creative Commons license. Read the original English version here.