Caufriez Hypopressive Gymnastics

The Caufriez Hypopressive Gymnastics It is part of the hypopressive techniques born in Belgium in the 1980s from the combination of clinical research in the urological field[1]department of urology – Erasme University Hospital – Pr C.C. Schulman and neurophysiology[2]Environmental and occupational physiology laboratory of the French Community of Belgium – Dr C.Balestra[3]Rial, T. Fernández, I and Villanueva, C. – 2011- Conceptual and Methodological Approach to the Hypopressive Method. EFDeportes.com, Digital magazine. Buenos Aires, 16, 162. – … Continue reading. 

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Hypopressive gymnastics was born in BELGIUM in the 1980s

Hypopressive gymnastics (GAH: Gymnastics Abdominales Hypopressives) “it is an ordered set of rhythmic postural exercises, repetitive and sequential that allow the integration and memorization of proprioceptive, sensitive or sensorial messages associated with a particular postural situation”[4]Caufriez, M., pinsach, P. and Fernandez, J.C.. – 2010 – Abdominals and Perineum, Mithes and Realities. Mallorca. MC Editions. In origine, la GAH had been conceived within the scope of a postpartum prevention program, with the aim of finding abdominal gymnastics free of hyperpressive negative effects on the pelvic floor. The GAH was therefore structured in such a way as to determine, during the exercises, a lowering of intra-abdominal and intra-thoracic pressure thanks to the tonic relaxation of the thoracic diaphragm which, for more, it also has the effect of inducing a reflex activation of the pelvic floor muscles and abdominal fascia[5]Caufriez, M., Fernández, B.C., Fanzel, R. y Snoeck, T. -2006-. Effects of a structured Hypopressive Abdominal Gymnastics training program on cervical vertebral statics and… Continue reading.

Among the long-term effects of this technique, improved management of intra-abdominal pressure has been highlighted, particularly in all those circumstances in which we find ourselves under stress[6]Caufriez, M., Fernández, B.C., Fanzel, R. y Snoeck, T. -2006-. Effects of a structured Hypopressive Abdominal Gymnastics training program on cervical vertebral statics and… Continue reading.

GAH is a postural gymnastics:

  • It is based on the maintenance of specifications postures for a certain period of time.
  • if applied for a sufficient period of time It entails one modification of the body plan and posture.
The gag is based on the maintenance of specific postures for a certain period of thermal. (Thanks to the site "https://publicdomainvectors.org/" For the free image.)
Vitruvian Man (Credits: Leonardo da Vinci, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

The duration of each session is 45 minutes and the total number of sessions it essentially depends on the patient and his ability to learn and to perform the exercises.

Learning the exercises happens progressively and you move on to the following financial year only when the previous one it was done correctly.

The duration of each session is 45 minutes
Learning the exercises occurs progressively: you move on to the next exercise only when the previous one has been correctly performed.
APNEA WITH RAISING OF THE RIB CAGE

When the patient is able to perform an exercise correctly, we proceed to perform it in apnea with active contraction of some inspiratory muscles (serratus gran and external intercostals) to intensify the effects of the exercise itself. Each hypopressive exercise consists in achieving e maintenance of a certain posture for about 25 seconds;

(Thanks to the site "https://publicdomainvectors.org/" For the free image.)
Maintain the posture with a two-step breath hold:10 seconds + 15 seconds

INDICATIONS

  • Diastasis of the rectus abdominis muscles: A clear decrease in diastase was found in patients who participated in the rehabilitation program with hypopresive gymnastics and some of the participants the diastase ri completely resolves with this rehabilitation [7]Ramirez-Jimenez, Miriam, et al. Effects of hypopressive exercises on post-partum abdominal diastasis, trunk circumference, and mechanical properties of abdominopelvic tissue. A case series; … Continue reading [8]Cañamero-de León, S., et al; Effects of an exercise program on diastasis recti in women; International Journal of Health Sciences and Research 9.10; 2019; 90-9 [9]Arranz-Martin, Beatriz, et al.; The impact of hypopressive abdominal exercise on linea alba morphology in women who are postpartum. A short-term cross-sectional study.; Physical Therapy 102.8; … Continue reading.
  • stress urinary incontinence: It was demonstrated that “The hypopressive postural techniques determine a clear increase in the muscle strength of the abdominal and pelvic muscles” and parallel an equally clear improvement in the symptomatology of incontinence. In the event that these techniques are used in combination with specific pelvic floor rehabilitation exercises, The results of the combined treatment are higher than the specific treatment of the pelvic floor alone[10]Myths, Stamenka, Margarita Avramova, and mariya gramatikova. “Effectivenesss of hypopressive gymnastic in women with pelvic floor dysfuncion”. Journal of Physical Education and Sport… Continue reading.
  • Chronic nonspecific low back pain[11]Bellido-Fernandez, L., et al. Effectiveness of massage therapy and abdominal hypopressive gymnastics in nonspecific chronic low back pain. A randomized controlled pilot study. Evidence-Based… Continue reading: It has been highlighted that a treatment with hypopresive gymnastics lasting 8 weeks determines an increase in the thickness and strength of the diaphragm during inspiration, as well as one “reduction of pain intensity, central awareness and disability in patients with non -specific chronic lumbar pain[12]Vicente-Campos, Davinia, et al. “The main role of diaphragm muscle as a mechanism of hypopressive abdominal gymnastics to improve non-specific chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled… Continue reading “. These results could suggest a fundamental role of the diaphragm muscle in the treatment of specific chronic lumbar pain[13]Vicente-Campos, Davinia, et al. “The main role of diaphragm muscle as a mechanism of hypopressive abdominal gymnastics to improve non-specific chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled… Continue reading .
  • Posture: Studies carried out on the effects of hypopressive gymnastics on posture have shown that an eight weeks program improves the parameters relating to postural control and activation of the abdominal transverse muscle (evaluated respectively with platform for a platform and ultrasound). The analysis of the establishment parameters showed an improvement in the control of the center of gravity both with closed eyes and with open eyes but also an improvement in the control of the anteroposous movements of the body[14]Moreno-Muñoz, Maria del Mar, et al. The effects of abdominal hypopressive training on postural control and deep trunk muscle activation. A randomized controlled trial. International journal of… Continue reading

Gah is also used for rehabilitative or preventive purposes also in the cases listed below even if at the moment there have been no studies capable of prove or deny their effectiveness:

  • prevention of pelvic organ prolapse [15]by Viñaspre Hernández, R. Ruiz. Efficacy of hypopressive abdominal gymnastics in rehabilitating the pelvic floor of women. A systematic review. Spanish Urological Acts. English Edition. 42.9 … Continue reading
  • prevention of herniated discs, abdominal muscles, inguinal and vaginal
  • vascular drainage of the lower limbs

Note

Note
↑1 department of urology – Erasme University Hospital – Pr C.C. Schulman
↑2 Environmental and occupational physiology laboratory of the French Community of Belgium – Dr C.Balestra
↑3 Rial, T. Fernández, I and Villanueva, C. – 2011- Conceptual and Methodological Approach to the Hypopressive Method. EFDeportes.com, Digital magazine. Buenos Aires, 16, 162. – www.efdeportes.com/efd162/aproximacion-al-metodo-hipopresivo.htm.
↑4 Caufriez, M., pinsach, P. and Fernandez, J.C.. – 2010 – Abdominals and Perineum, Mithes and Realities. Mallorca. MC Editions
↑5 Caufriez, M., Fernández, B.C., Fanzel, R. y Snoeck, T. -2006-. Effects of a structured Hypopressive Abdominal Gymnastics training program on cervical and dorsolumbar vertebral statics, Physiotherapy, 28-4-, 205-16.
↑6 Caufriez, M., Fernández, B.C., Fanzel, R. y Snoeck, T. -2006-. Effects of a structured Hypopressive Abdominal Gymnastics training program on cervical and dorsolumbar vertebral statics, Physiotherapy, 28-4-, 205-16.
↑7 Ramirez-Jimenez, Miriam, et al. Effects of hypopressive exercises on post-partum abdominal diastasis, trunk circumference, and mechanical properties of abdominopelvic tissue. A case series; Physiotherapy Theory and Practice 39.1; 2023; 49-60.
↑8 Cañamero-de León, S., et al; Effects of an exercise program on diastasis recti in women; International Journal of Health Sciences and Research 9.10; 2019; 90-9
↑9 Arranz-Martin, Beatriz, et al.; The impact of hypopressive abdominal exercise on linea alba morphology in women who are postpartum. A short-term cross-sectional study.; Physical Therapy 102.8; 2022; pzac086
↑10 Myths, Stamenka, Margarita Avramova, and mariya gramatikova. “Effectivenesss of hypopressive gymnastic in women with pelvic floor dysfuncion”. Journal of Physical Education and Sport 22.2 – 2022. 416-422
↑11 Bellido-Fernandez, L., et al. Effectiveness of massage therapy and abdominal hypopressive gymnastics in nonspecific chronic low back pain. A randomized controlled pilot study. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2018.
↑12, ↑13 Vicente-Campos, Davinia, et al. “The main role of diaphragm muscle as a mechanism of hypopressive abdominal gymnastics to improve non-specific chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial.” Journal of clinical medicine 10.21 – 2021 – 4983.
↑14 Moreno-Muñoz, Maria del Mar, et al. The effects of abdominal hypopressive training on postural control and deep trunk muscle activation. A randomized controlled trial. International journal of environmental research and public health 18.5 -2021. 2741.
↑15 by Viñaspre Hernández, R. Ruiz. Efficacy of hypopressive abdominal gymnastics in rehabilitating the pelvic floor of women. A systematic review. Spanish Urological Acts. English Edition. 42.9 -2018. 557-566.