Research Abstract
Academy Title:Martin et al. 2012
Research Article: Progression Of Core Muscle Activation During The Performance Of Exercises With Different Types Of Stability (Abstract)
Progression Of Core Muscle Activation During The Performance Of Exercises With Different Types Of Stability
Julio Martin, Sebastien Borreani, Juan Carlos Colado, Joaquin Calatayud, Fernando Martin, Joao Alves. University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
Nowadays there is a lack of knowledge about the correct progression and application of the exercises during the core training, especially if it is necessary to choose between different devices.
PURPOSE: To compare core muscular activity during nine exercises performed in stable and unstable conditions using Thera-Band® devices.
METHODS: 18 physically fit and healthy male subjects took part in a randomized, within-subject design assessment. The maximum isometric voluntary contraction (MIVC) was evaluated for the purpose of normalization. Lumbar erector spinae (LES), thoracic erector spinae (TES), lumbar multifidus (LM), thoracic multífidus (TM) and gluteus maximus (GM) muscular activities were recorded, and then the average root mean square values of all of them were calculated for each condition. Surface electromyography activity was analyzed during the central 16 seconds of 20 of the 9 isometric standing postures (140º and 60º of knee and hip flexion respectively), with the arms flexed parallel to the floor and always above the Thera-Band Exercise Station. Three positions: (a) bipodal, (b) unipodal and (c) unipodal with Thera-Band elastic tubings were performed in three conditions: (a) stable, (b) Thera-Band Soft Stability and (c) Thera-Band Rocker Board.
All values were expressed as the mean of the 5 muscles regarding %MIVC, they were compared using a mixed-model MANOVA with a post-hoc analysis of Bonferroni. Significance level was set at p≤0.05.
RESULTS:
| | | |
Table1. Average muscular activation comparisons between conditions (n=18). |
Device/conditions | Mean | SEM | |
Stable/bipodal | 12.48 | 0.79 | |
Soft Stability/bipodal | 13.08 | 0.76 | |
Rocker Board/bipodal | 14.02 | 0.87 | |
Stable/unipodal | 14.28‡ | 0.95 | |
Soft Stability/unipodal | 15.08‡ | 0.89 | |
Rocker Board/unipodal | 15.15‡ | 0.93 | |
Stable/unipodal with elastic tubing | 21.82* | 1.30 | |
Soft Stability/unipodal with elastic tubing | 22.78* | 1.40 | |
Rocker Board/unipodal with elastic tubing | 23.38*† | 1.43 | |
Data is expressed as a mean (SEM) in percentage of the MIVC. * indicates significant differences (p≤0.05) related to bipodal and unipodal conditions without elastic tubings. † indicates significant differences (p≤0.05) related to stable condition. ‡ indicates significant differences (p≤0.05) related to bipodal condition. |
CONCLUSION: In the evaluated exercises, the use of elastic tubings always provokes in a statistically significant way a higher level of muscular activation in the CORE independently of the unstable device used and/or of the modification of the support.