Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene Commons^™

Managing Complexity: Manager-Stakeholder Communication, Relational Dynamics, And The Dual Nature Of Rtw Communication, H. Bertolini, Marc Corbière, Alessia Negrini, Nadine Larivière, Patrizia Villotti, Dominic Prévost, Meryl Caiada, Jason Amorim, Fergal O'Hagan

Études primaires

Purpose

The return to work (RTW) process of worker absent due to common mental disorders (CMD) or musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) represents a complex challenge that involves multiple stakeholders. The aim of this study was to examine how managers perceive the factors that facilitate or hinder communication with other stakeholders during the RTW process.

This qualitative study was based on four focus groups conducted in Canada (Quebec and Ontario) with 18 managers.

Thematic analysis identified five themes related to facilitators and seven themes related to communication obstacles. Among the main facilitators, trust, clarity, and collaboration emerged as key elements …

Lumbosacral Orthosis Can Improve Postural Control In Older Adults With Chronic Low Back Pain, Régis M.-L. D'Assomption, Christian Lariviere, Hakim Mecheri, Suzy Ngomo, Rubens A. Da Silva

Études primaires

Background

Older adults with chronic low back pain may report poor postural control and increased fall risks. Possible key mechanisms are altered lumbar spine proprioception, stiffness and mobility, which could be enhanced through lumbar stabilization approaches. The purpose of this study was thus to evaluate the immediate effects of two lumbar stabilization approaches on postural control measures, namely a lumbosacral orthosis and the abdominal drawing-in maneuver.

Methods

57 older adults (> 65 yrs): 22 with chronic low back pain and 35 healthy controls performed two trials (30 s) of a semi-tandem balance task on a force platform, while three experimental …

If Only Pickups And Vans Could Fly: Vehicle Maintenance And The Challenge Of Safely Lifting Large Vehicles On A Two-Post Lift, Damien Burlet-Vienney, Sylvie Beaugrand, Maud Gonella, Bertrand Galy, Élise Ledoux

Études primaires

The use of automotive lifts requires mechanics to work under or near a multi-ton load. Based on consultation with stakeholders, pickups and vans appear to pose problems when raised using two-post above-ground lifts (2PAG lifts), the most common type of automotive lift in garages. The aim of this study is therefore to highlight the work activity performed by mechanics when raising pickups and vans on 2PAG lifts and to describe the factors they take into account to ensure vehicle stability. Data collection took place under actual conditions in five garages. A total of 108 lifting situations were filmed and analyzed, …

Proactive Safety Reasoning In Human-Robot Collaboration In Disassembly Through Llm-Augmented Stpa And Fmea, Morteza Jalali Alenjareghi, Fardin Ghorbani, Samira Keivanpour, Yuvin Adnarain Chinniah, Sabrina Jocelyn

Études primaires

Disassembly tasks in human–robot collaboration (HRC) environments present safety challenges due to hazardous materials, control system variability, and physically demanding operator tasks. To address these challenges, we propose an AI-augmented risk assessment framework integrating System-Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA) and Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA). This framework is implemented in four configurations: Term Frequency– Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF), Fine-tuned Large Language Models (LLMs), Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), and RAG with a structured Knowledge Graph (KG) built from safety standards. The system supports real-time, standards-compliant safety reasoning by generating interpretable, context-specific recommendations. We evaluate these configurations across GPT-3.5 TURBO, GPT-4o, GPT-4.1, and …

Occupational Exposure To Pesticides Increases The Risk Of Amyotrophyc Lateral Sclerosis: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, France Labrèche, Pamela Prudhomme, Maryse Gagnon, Nicolas Dupré, Sabrina Gravel

Études primaires

Objective To systematically review the evidence on the association between occupational exposure to pesticides and the risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Methods A systematic search, conducted in eight bibliographic databases for publications between 1990 and 2025, identified observational studies estimating the risk of ALS after occupational pesticide exposure. Study quality was assessed using the WHO Risk of Bias (RoB) assessment instrument for systematic reviews, with the ROBINS-E (RoB in non-randomised studies of exposure) tool domains of bias. Pooled risk estimates were produced using random-effects models with restricted maximum likelihood, heterogeneity was assessed with I² statistics, and meta-regressions and publication …

Analysis Of The Functional And Acoustical Comfort Of Earplugs Experienced By A Group Of Workers In Canadian Companies And Identification Of The Influencing Variables, Bastien Poissenot-Arrigoni, Olivier Doutres, Alessia Negrini, Djamal Berbiche, Franck Sgard

Études primaires

Earplugs are essential for hearing protection in noisy workplaces, but their effectiveness depends heavily on user comfort, which influences proper and consistent use. This study explores functional and acoustical comfort experienced by 173 workers across Canadian companies, each testing different ’disposable or reusable’ earplug models over seven weeks. Comfort is assessed using detailed questionnaires covering six subdimensions: ease of insertion and removal, noise protection, impact on work, and discomfort related to internal and external noise perception. Linear mixed-effects models are applied within a triad framework encompassing person-, earplug-, and environment-related characteristics in order to identify those with a significant influence …

Lung Inflammation From Daily Exposure To Airborne Particulate Matter In A Trade School, Kynda Tinawi, Céline Plante, Alan Da Silveira Fleck, Édith Giasson, Isabelle Valois, Caroline Couture, Eva Suarthana, Maximilien Debia, Audrey Smargiassi

Études primaires

Background Workers are exposed daily to various airborne chemical agents, however, associations between daily exposures to particulate matter and lung inflammation in occupational settings have been little explored. Objective To estimate the association between daily occupational exposure to respirable (PM4 and PM2.5), ultrafine particles, their oxidative potential, and fractional exhaled nitric oxide within apprentices in a school of construction trades. Methods We used a repeated measures design over 5 consecutive days in 56 apprentices from 3 construction trade sectors (bricklaying, welding, and carpentry). Fractional exhaled nitric oxide was measured each day post-work. Personal and work area daily PM4 were collected …

Supports For Mental Well-Being Valued By Healthcare Workers: Qualitative Analysis Of Data From A Canadian Cohort Of Healthcare Workers During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Shannon Marie Ruzycki, Anil Adisesh, Quentin Durand-Moreau, France Labrèche, Tanis Zadunayski, Erica Stroud, Nicola Cherry

Études primaires

A prospective cohort of 4964 HCWs from four Canadian provinces was established early in the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were invited to comment about workplace mental health supports at three time points. We performed a thematic content analysis of responses from 1738 participants using the Social Support Behaviour Code framework to categorize barriers to support as informational, tangible, emotional, social, or expressing esteem. Themes were synthesized into suggestions for healthcare organizations to prepare for future crises. Formal and informal peer support, workplace mental health supports, and one-on-one counseling were most often mentioned as valued. Analysis suggested that workplace social networks as …

The Incidence Of Postmenopausal Breast Cancer In Relation To Occupational Exposure To Textile Fibers And Dusts In Montreal, Canada, 2008-2011, Maymouna Myriam Ka, France Labrèche, Mark S. Goldberg, Vikki Ho

Études primaires

Objective To estimate the associations between occupational exposure to textile fibers/dusts, and incidence of postmenopausal invasive breast cancer.

Methods

A population-based case-control study conducted in Montreal (2008 − 2011) identified hospital cases (N = 695) and population controls (N = 608) from the electoral list. Occupational hygienists examined participants’ occupations and tasks, and attributed exposures to several textile fibers. For all tumors and according to biomolecular subtypes, odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated using logistic regression models with different exposure indices, adjusting for potential confounders.

Results

Ever exposure to cotton dust was associated with an increased …

Vocational Training And Occupational Health: An Ergonomics Approach To Gender And Disabilities For Social Sustainability, Myriam Bérubé, Céline Chatigny, Marie Laberge

Études primaires

The Work-Oriented Training Path (WOTP) in Quebec, Canada, is a dual vocational training program that offers students with learning difficulties supervised traineeships. Teachers play a pivotal role in managing students' occupational health and safety (OHS), yet must do so under tight time constraints, limited institutional guidance and highly diverse student profiles. Building on an activity-centered ergonomics and capabilities framework, this multiple-case study explores how gender, disabilities, and work determinants shape OHS management within the WOTP, emphasizing their implications for social sustainability. Twenty-seven semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 WOTP teachers; 497 narrated anecdotes, which are units of speech when teachers' …

Characterization Of Airborne Bacterial Diversity In Conventional Hen Houses, Enriched Colonies And Aviaries, And Link Between Possible Bioaerosol Sources, M.-W. St-Germain, M. Veillette, V. Létourneau, A. D. Larios Martínez, S. Godbout, M. Boulianne, C. Duchaine

Études primaires

Background

Canada’s transition toward alternative housing systems for laying hens may have an impact on bioaerosol content and concentrations in those environments. This project aimed to characterize the airborne bacterial diversity in six conventional hen houses, six enriched colonies and six aviaries. The bacterial diversity found in bioaerosols was also compared to the diversity found in feces or litter samples from each corresponding housing type to investigate similarities between possible bioaerosol sources and bioaerosols.

Results

Specific richness (S_obs) and CHAO1 indexes were higher in air samples from conventional hen houses and enriched colonies, compared to their corresponding fecal …

Occupational Exposure To Combustion By-Products And Breast Cancer Risk In Postmenopausal Women, Kahlila Paul-Cole, France Labrèche, Mark S. Goldberg, Sydney Westra, Vikki Ho

Études primaires

Objective

To estimate the association between lifetime occupational exposure to select combustion by-products and postmenopausal breast cancer (BC) risk.

Materials and Methods

Data from a population-based case-control study among postmenopausal women residing in Montréal, Quebec were used. Cases included 661 women aged between 47 and 75 yr, diagnosed with incident malignant BC between 2008 and 2011. Controls comprised 587 women randomly selected from the Quebec Electoral List, frequency-matched to cases by 5-year age groups. Information on risk factors and lifetime occupational histories was collected by interview. Two industrial hygienists used job histories to assign exposure to 293 agents, including 6 …

Évolution Des Troubles Mentaux Liés Au Travail Au Québec Entre 2012 Et 2021, Jaunathan Bilodeau, Martin Lebeau, Marc-Antoine Busque, Alain Marchand

Études primaires

Introduction : Plusieurs pays ont connu une augmentation du nombre de troubles mentaux acceptés au cours des dernières années, mais les variations possibles de cette évolution dans la main-d’œuvre demeurent à explorer.

But de l’étude : Cette étude examine la distribution dans le temps des troubles mentaux acceptés selon la profession, le secteur industriel, le sexe et l’âge au Québec.

Résultats : Les taux d’incidence des troubles mentaux et leur évolution varient selon la profession et le secteur industriel. Alors que le taux est généralement plus élevé dans les professions mixtes et le secteur tertiaire, l’augmentation de ces taux s’observe …

Development And Validation Of A Subject-Specific Integrated Finite Element Musculoskeletal Model Of Human Trunk With Ergonomic And Clinical Applications, Farshid Ghezelbash, Amir Hossein Eskandari, Amir Jafari Bidhendi, Aboulfazl Shirazi-Adl, Christian Lariviere

Études primaires

Biomechanical modeling of the human trunk is crucial for understanding spinal mechanics and its role in ergonomics and clinical interventions. Traditional models have been limited by only considering the passive structures of the spine in finite element (FE) models or incorporating active muscular components in multi-body musculoskeletal (MS) models with an oversimplified spine. To address those limitations, we developed a subject-specific coupled FE-MS model of the trunk and explored its applications in ergonomics and surgical interventions. A parametric detailed FE model was constructed, integrated with a muscle architecture, and individualized based on existing datasets. Our comprehensive validation encompassed tissue-level responses, …

Reliability Of An Extended Version Of The 3m™ Eargage Tool To Assess Earcanal Size And Assist Earplug Selection, Bastien Poissenot-Arrigoni, Laurence Martin, Alessia Negrini, Djamal Berbiche, Olivier Doutres, Franck Sgard

Études primaires

Objective: Evaluate the ability of an extended version of the 3 MTM Eargage to estimate the earcanal size and assess the likelihood that a particular earplug can fit an individual’s earcanal, ultimately serving as a tool for selecting earplugs in the field. Design: Earcanal morphology, assessed through earcanal earmolds scans, is compared to earcanal size assessed with the extended eargage (EE) via box plots and Pearson linear correlations coefficients. Relations between attenuation measured on participants (for 6 different earplugs) and their earcanal size assessed with the EE are established via comparison tests. Study sample: 121 participants exposed to occupational noise …

Evolution Of Stressors For Healthcare Workers Over The Covid-19 Pandemic, F. Labrèche, Q. Durand-Moreau, A. Adisesh, J.-M. Galarneau, Shannon Ruzycki, Tanis Zadunayski, Nicola Cherry

Études primaires

Background:

Many studies have documented exposure to psychosocial factors in healthcare workers (HCWs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Few have done it prospectively with open-ended questions.

Aims:

To describe the evolution of stress factors reported by HCWs during the pandemic.

Methods:

A prospective cohort of 4964 HCWs (physicians, nurses, healthcare aides, personal support workers), from four Canadian provinces, received four online questionnaires between the springs 2020 and 2022. Responses to an open-ended question on stressful events were coded into 25 stressors. Multilevel logistic regressions assessed trends in stressors, and the effect of gender, occupation, and age.

Results:

In 2020, 91% of …

Disability Reduction Following A Lumbar Stabilization Exercise Program For Low Back Pain: Large Vs. Small Improvement Subgroup Analyses Of Physical And Psychological Variables, Christian Larivière, Richard Preuss, Marie-France Coutu, Michael J. Sullivan, Nicolas Roy, Sharon M. Henry

Études primaires

Background: Little is known about why patients with low back pain (LBP) respond differently to treatment, and more specifically, to a lumbar stabilization exercise program. As a first step toward answering this question, the present study evaluates how subgroups of patients who demonstrate large and small clinical improvements differ in terms of physical and psychological changes during treatment. Methods: Participants (n = 110) performed the exercise program (clinical sessions and home exercises) over eight weeks, with 100 retained at six-month follow-up. Physical measures (lumbar segmental instability, motor control impairments, range of motion, trunk muscle endurance and physical performance tests) were …

Effect Of Personalized Spinal Profile On Its Biomechanical Response In An Emg-Assisted Optimization Musculoskeletal Model Of The Trunk, C. Larivière, A.H. Eskandari, H. M., F. Ghezelbash, D. Gagnon, A. Shirazi-Adl

Études primaires

Recent developments in musculoskeletal (MS) modeling have been geared towards model customization. Personalization of the spine profile could affect estimates of spinal loading and stability, particularly in the upright standing posture where large inter-subject variations in the lumbar lordosis have been reported. This study investigates the biomechanical consequences of changes in the spinal profile. In 31 participants (healthy and with back pain), (1) the spine external profile was measured, (2) submaximal contractions were recorded in a dynamometer to calibrate the EMG-driven MS model and finally (3) static lifting in the upright standing challenging spine stability while altering load position and …

Availability, Use, And Impact Of Workplace Mental Health Supports During The Covid-19 Pandemic In A Canadian Cohort Of Healthcare Workers, Shannon Ruzycki, Anil Adisesh, Igor Burstyn, Quentin Durand-Moreau, France Labreche, Tanis Zadunayski, Nicola Cherry

Études primaires

We investigated the availability and use of workplace mental health (MH) supports during the COVID-19 pandemic in a Canadian cohort of healthcare workers (HCW) and measured anxiety and depression by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) completed at four contacts 2020–2022. Reports were available for 4400 HCW working with patients. Half the HCWs had a clinically significant HADS score at one or more contacts Access to MH supports increased during the pandemic, with 94% reporting access to some workplace support by 2022: 47% had made use of at least one support. 25% of those with high HADS scores used …

Les Pratiques Professionnelles Des Pomiculteurs Exposés Aux Pesticides : Des Savoir-Faire De Métier Aux Pratiques Stratégiques, Caroline Jolly, Alain Garrigou, Elise Ledoux

Études primaires

Dans les très petites entreprises pomicoles, le propriétaire assume majoritairement seul la préparation et la pulvérisation des pesticides. Le respect des mesures de prévention prescrites n’élimine pas l’exposition, pouvant occasionner des effets à la santé. L’objectif est de décrire les pratiques professionnelles développées par les pomiculteurs. Elles visent à limiter l’exposition aux pesticides tout en produisant des fruits de qualité, contribuant ainsi à l'essor de leur entreprise. La recherche-intervention mobilisant l’ergotoxicologie a été réalisée auprès de pomiculteurs au Québec. La diversité des pratiques professionnelles présentées s’inscrit dans les domaines d’activités de la gestion stratégique (p. ex. : développement de l’entreprise) …

An Impedance Tube Technique For Estimating The Insertion Loss Of Earplugs, K. Carillo, O. Doutres, F. Sgard

Études primaires

This paper proposes a quick and straightforward technique for estimating the insertion loss (IL) of earplugs measured on an acoustical test fixture (ATF) using a commercial impedance tube. In this method, the earplug's acoustic properties (i.e., its transmission loss and the reflection coefficient of its medial surface) are determined from its transfer matrix measured using the three-microphones impedance tube method modified here for the current application. The IL is then estimated using a one-dimensional analytical model of open and occluded earcanals based on the wavefield decomposition theory. The method is evaluated numerically and experimentally from 50 Hz to 6.5 kHz. …

On The Area-Averaged Effective Sound Absorption Coefficient Of Porous Materials Excited By A Monopole, Franck Sgard, Noureddine Atalla, Olivier Robin, Alain Berry

Études primaires

The area-averaged effective sound absorption coefficient (SAC) of a rigid-backed homogeneous porous material subjected to a monopole excitation is calculated as the absorbed-to-incident sound power ratio. Using Allard's model to describe the sound propagation above the porous material, an analytical model for this power-based SAC is proposed and proves to give a good approximation of the sound absorption performance under monopole excitation of sufficiently large areas of material. The impact of factors on the power-based SAC, such as monopole height, material radial dimension used to calculate the sound powers, and material properties is discussed. The power-based SAC frequency-dependent behavior is …

Work Characteristics, Workplace Support, And Mental Ill-Health In A Canadian Cohort Of Healthcare Workers During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Nicola Cherry, Anil Adisesh, Igor Burstyn, Quentin Durand-Moreau, Jean-Michel Galarneau, France Labrèche, Shannon Ruzycki, Tanis Zadunayski

Études primaires

Objective The aim of the study was to identify determinants of mental health in healthcare workers (HCW) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A cohort of Canadian HCW completed four questionnaires giving details of work with patients, ratings of workplace supports, a mental health questionnaire, and substance use. Principal components were extracted from 23 rating scales. Risk factors were examined by Poisson regression. Results A total of 4854 (97.8%) of 4964 participants completed ratings and mental health questionnaires. Healthcare workers working with patients with COVID-19 had high anxiety and depression scores. One of three extracted components, 'poor support,' was related to …

Excess Risk Of Covid-19 Infection And Mental Distress In Healthcare Workers During Successive Pandemic Waves: Analysis Of Matched Cohorts Of Healthcare Workers And Community Referents In Alberta, Canada, Jean-Michel Galarneau, France Labrèche, Quentin Durand-Moreau, Shannon Ruzycki, Anil Adisesh, Igor Burstyn, Tanis Zadunayski, Nicola Cherry

Études primaires

Objectives: To investigate changes in risk of infection and mental distress in healthcare workers (HCWs) relative to the community as the COVID-19 pandemic progressed. Methods: HCWs in Alberta, Canada, recruited to an interprovincial cohort, were asked consent to link to Alberta’s administrative health database (AHDB) and to information on COVID-19 immunization and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. Those consenting were matched to records of up to five community referents (CRs). Physician diagnoses of COVID-19 were identified in the AHDB from the start of the pandemic to 31 March 2022. Physician consultations for mental health (MH) conditions (anxiety, stress/adjustment reaction, depressive) …

Occupational Pressures Of Frontline Workers Enforcing Covid-19 Pandemic Measures In Ontario And Quebec, Canada, Pamela Hopwood, Ellen Maceachen, Daniel Côté, Samantha B. Meyer, Shannon Majowicz, Ai-Thuy Huynh, Meghan K. Crouch, Joyceline Amoako, Yamin T. Jahangir, Amelia León Correal, Antonela Ilic

Études primaires

BACKGROUND:During the COVID-19 pandemic, low-wage public-facing frontline workers (FLWs), such as grocery store clerks, were required to monitor retail customers and enforce COVID-19 protocols. OBJECTIVE:This analysis aimed to examine FLWs experiences of enforcing COVID-19 pandemic measures. METHODS:Between September 2020 and March 2021, in Ontario and Quebec (Canada), we conducted in-depth interviews about customer-related work and health risks with FLWs who interacted with the public (n = 40) and their supervisors (n = 16). Using a lens of situational analysis, verbatim transcripts were coded according to recurring topics. RESULTS:We found that enforcing public health measures placed already-precarious workers in difficult occupational …

Intelligent Thermoregulation In Personal Protective Equipment, Alireza Saidi, Chantal Gauvin

Études primaires

With the prospect of deploying intelligent thermal management in protective equipment, strategies for integrating heating and cooling actuators with modular temperature controls and automatic temperature regulation systems based on feedback from the individual’s personal and environmental parameters are discussed. © 2024 by the authors.

Measurement Of The Local Static Mechanical Pressure Of Earplugs, Luiz G.C. Melo, Ahmed S. Dalaq, Franck Sgard, Olivier Doutres, Laurianne Legroux, Eric Wagnac

Études primaires

Earplugs are used in various critical industrial sectors, such as construction, aviation, military and defense, transportation, and healthcare. However, they present inherent drawbacks, notably discomfort that can lead to inconsistent and incorrect use, thereby leaving a significant proportion of workers vulnerable to irreversible hearing damage, ranging from tinnitus to deafness. This discomfort is closely linked to a physical parameter known as static mechanical pressure (SMP), representing the pressure exerted by earplugs on the earcanal walls. Determining the SMP is crucial for developing earplugs that prioritize comfort. However, experimental studies in this area are scarce and there is no experimental set-up …

Comparative Evaluation Of Different Spinal Stability Metrics, Amir Hossein Eskandari, Farshid Ghezelbash, Aboulfazl Shirazi-Adl, Christian Larivière

Études primaires

Direct in vivo measurements of spinal stability are not possible, leaving computational estimations (such as dynamic time series and structural analyses) as the feasible option. However, differences between different stability assessment approaches and metrics remain unclear. To explore this, we asked 32 participants to perform 35 cycles of repetitive lifts with and without load (4/2.6 kg for males/females). EMG signals and 3D kinematics were collected via 12 surface electrodes and 17 inertial sensors, and three dynamical stability measures were computed: short and long temporal and conventional maximum Lyapunov exponents (LyE) and maximum Floquet multipliers (FM). A dynamic subject-specific EMG-assisted musculoskeletal …

Biomonitoring Of Exposure To Multiple Metal Components In Urine, Hair And Nails Of Apprentice Welders Performing Shielded Metal Arc Welding (Smaw), Jairo Buitrago-Cortes, Philippe Sarazin, Denis Dieme, Jonathan Côté, Capucine Ouellet, Naïma El Majidi, Michèle Bouchard

Études primaires

Welding fumes are associated with various diseases. Increased air levels of metals were reported during welding. However, few multielement biomonitoring studies were conducted to assess the actual dose of metal components absorbed in apprentice welders in a learning environment. This research aimed to establish the nature and level of exposure to welding fumes and their metallic components in apprentice welders performing ‘Shielded Metal Arc Welding’ (SMAW), based on multi-element and multi-matrix analyses. A total of 86 apprentice welders were recruited in three different schools in Montreal, Québec, Canada. Twenty-one elements were measured in urine, hair, fingernail, and toenail samples collected …

The Relationship Between Clinical Examination Measures And Ultrasound Measures Of Fascia Thickness Surrounding Trunk Muscles Or Lumbar Multifidus Fatty Infiltrations: An Exploratory Study, Christian Larivière, Richard Preuss, Dany H. Gagnon, Hakim Mecheri, Mark Driscoll, Sharon M. Henry

Études primaires

Patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) exhibit remodelling of the lumbar soft tissues such as muscle fatty infiltrations (MFI) and fibrosis of the lumbar multifidus (LuM) muscles, thickness changes of the thoracolumbar fascia (TLF) and perimuscular connective tissues (PMCT) surrounding the abdominal lateral wall muscles. Rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI) parameters such as thickness and echogenicity are sensitive to this remodelling. This experimental laboratory study aimed to explore whether these RUSI parameters (LuM echogenicity and fascia thicknesses), hereafter called dependent variables (DV) were linked to independent variables (IV) such as (1) other RUSI parameters (trunk muscle thickness and activation) and …