One of the preventive measures that have been suggested to prevent low back pain is to train people to use the stabilizing muscles of the lower back. The objective of this study was to see whether the transverse abdominal muscle could be activated with small voluntary contraction without involvement of the global muscle system of the trunk. Sixteen healthy asymptomatic subjects, four women and twelve men aged between 20-57 years participated in the study. The activation of the transverse abdominis (TA) was measured by using ultrasound. The activation of the erector spinae (ES), gluteus medius (GM), rectus abdominis (RA) and obliquus externus abdominis (OEA) was measured using surface electromyogram (EMG). In the beginning the subjects were briefly taught to activate the stabilizing muscles of the lower back. Then, the subjects were asked to activate the stabilizing muscles three times with relaxation periods in between, during which measurements were done. The activities of the external global muscles of the trunk increased (ES: 8% (SD: 2%); GM: 12% (SD: 4%); RA: 11% (SD: 3%); OEA: 10% (SD:2%); p<.05) when TA was in contraction (0,50 mm (SD: 0.03) vs 0.71 mm (SD: 0.09); p<.05). In conclusion: Healthy asymptomatic individuals that have been briefly taught to activate the transverse abdominis in isolation cannot activate it without involvement of the global muscles of the trunk.