Trunk Muscle EMG During Intermediate Pilates Mat Exercises in Beginner Healthy and Chronic Low Back Pain Individuals

Immediate Effects of Sprinter-Pattern Exercise on the Lordotic Curve and Abdominal Muscle Activity in Individuals with Hyperlordosis

Background and Objectives: Abdominal muscle exercises with limb movements are more effective for trunk stabilization than traditional exercises involving trunk flexion alone. This study examined the effects of abdominal exercises incorporating sprinter pattern and crunch exercises on changes in the lordotic curve and abdominal muscle activation in individuals with low back pain caused by hyperlordosis resulting from weak abdominal muscles. Materials and Methods: In this single-blind, randomized controlled trial, a total of 40 participants with hyperlordosis were recruited and randomly assigned to perform either sprinter-pattern abdominal exercises or crunch exercises. The participants assigned to each group performed three sets of ten abdominal exercises. The lumbar lordotic angle (LLA) and sacrohorizontal angle (SHA) were assessed prior to and following the intervention, whereas abdominal muscle activity was gauged throughout the intervention period. Changes in the LLA and SHA were measured by radiography. Abdominal muscle activity was measured using electromyography. Results: The LLA and SHA decreased significantly in both groups (p < 0.001), while the sprinter-pattern exercise group showed a statistically significant decrease compared to the crunch exercise group (p < 0.001). In the activity of the abdominal muscles, there was no significant difference in the rectus abdominis muscle between the two groups (p > 0.005). However, a significant difference between the external and internal oblique muscles was observed, and the activities of both muscles were significantly higher in the sprinter-pattern exercise group than in the crunch exercise group (p < 0.005). Conclusions: Abdominal exercise using a sprinter pattern may be effective in reducing lumbar lordosis by strengthening the abdominal muscles in patients with hyperlordosis.

Comparing the Effects of Different Types of Aquatic Walking on Endurance and Electrical Activities of Spine Extensor Muscles in Men with Nonspecific Chronic Back Pain

Background

Chronic back pain is one of the most challenging medical problems worldwide that results in disability, physical problems, and high costs for the family and society. Therefore, it can be very beneficial to find an appropriate treatment with minimum side-effects for this disease. The present study attempted to compare the effects of different water gait protocols on the endurance and electrical activity of spine extensor muscles in men with nonspecific chronic back pain.

Methods

The study adopted an experimental design in which 30 men with non-specific chronic back pain were selected through convenience sampling and using simple randomization method assigned into three groups of forward walking, backward walking, and sideways walking. Walking exercises were performed for 8 weeks, three sessions per week for 30 min. Twenty-four hours before and 48 h after the intervention, the endurance of spine extensor muscles and electrical activities were measured using the Ito test and electromyography, respectively. Data were analyzed in SPSS 23 using paired sample t-test and analysis of variance.

Results

The results showed that backward walking in water significantly increases endurance and electromyography activities of spine extensor muscles (P < 0.05), while forward and sideways walking had no significant effect on these variables (P > 0.05). The results obtained from Bonferroni post-hoc test showed a significant difference between the strength of trunk extensor muscles and EMG of spinal cord extensor muscles in forward and backward water gait groups (P = 0.001, 0.006).

Conclusions

According to the findings of this study, it seems that walking backward can be an effective therapeutic method for patients with chronic back pain.

CORE STABILITY MUSCLE ACTIVITY DURING STANDING LOWER BODY TWISTING EXERCISES

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the activity of the abdominal internal oblique (IO) and lumbar multifidus (LM) muscles relative to kinetic chain exercises performed in a standing position.

HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to identify the activity of the IO and the LM muscles during weight-bearing exercises. The authors hypothesized that IO and LM muscle activity would vary with lower body positions during the kinetic chain exercises.

METHODS

Nineteen healthy, young, active subjects volunteered to participate. The electromyographic (EMG) activity (via surface EMG) of the abdominal external oblique (EO), IO, and LM muscles on both sides and the rectus femoris and semitendinosus muscles on the dominant side was determined during rhythmical lower body twisting exercise with three lower body positions: straight leg (SL), athletic position (AP), dynamic knee extension (DE) at two exercise speeds: 150 and 90 beats per min. These were reported as % maximum voluntary contraction. Mean EO, IO, and LM muscle activities were also compared with those of common core stability exercises.

RESULTS

IO EMG activity was significantly greater in SL than that of AP (p < 0.05). In contrast, LM EMG activity was significantly greater in the DE position than that of both SL and AP positions (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

IO muscle activity could be attenuated by the contraction of lower body extensor muscles during the standing position.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Basic Laboratory Study, Level 3b.

Análise eletromiográfica de músculos do tronco e pelve durante o leg circle no solo e com molas no Cadillac

RESUMO O objetivo do estudo é investigar, através da EMG, se é possível alterar a exigência dos músculos estabilizadores do tronco e da pelve, executando o exercício Leg Circle no solo e com diferentes posicionamentos das molas no Cadillac. Treze instrutoras praticantes de Pilates por no mínimo seis meses e sem dor realizaram 10 repetições do exercício Leg Circle em três situações: (1) Solo; (2) Molas altas (MA); (3) Molas médias (MM). Foram obtidos dados de EMG dos músculos oblíquo interno do abdômen/transverso do abdômen (OI/TS), oblíquo externo do abdômen (OE), reto abdominal (RA) e multífidos (MU) apresentados em percentual da CIVM. As comparações foram realizadas através da ANOVA de medidas repetidas (α=0,05). Todos os músculos sofreram influência do posicionamento da mola. No solo, as maiores ativações ocorreram nos músculos RA e OE, enquanto nas execuções realizadas com molas, os músculos mais recrutados foram OI/TS (MM) e MU (MA). Os músculos RA e OE não obtiveram diferenças entre as situações MA e MM. A execução do exercício Leg Circle no solo e com molas gera alterações no recrutamento dos músculos avaliados. Observa-se também que, ao analisar o exercício realizado no Cadillac entre molas altas e molas médias, houve diferença apenas para os músculos OI/TS e MU.

The effects of the neck stabilization exercise on the muscle activity of trunk respiratory muscles and maximum voluntary ventilation of chronic stroke patients

BACKGROUND

Unstable neck posture, muscle imbalance, and segmental instability can cause neck pain and decrease the respiratory function.

OBJECTIVE

To examine effects of a neck stabilization exercise on respiratory muscle activity and maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) in patients with a chronic stroke.

METHODS

A total of 40 patients with a chronic stroke participated in this study. They were randomly divided into two groups (20 in each group). However, ten patients dropped out of the experiment (5 in each group). The experimental group (n= 15) performed a 15-minute neck stabilization exercise and a 15-minute breathing retraining exercise in addition to a rehabilitation exercise treatment. The control group (n= 15) completed a 30-minute breathing retraining exercise in addition to a rehabilitation exercise treatment. Exercises were conducted for 30 minutes a day, five times a week, for a total of six weeks. Activities of major respiratory muscles and MVV were measured before and after the experiment.

RESULTS

Both the experimental group and the control group showed significant difference in activities of major respiratory muscles and MVV before and after the experiment (p< 0.05). The experimental group showed a significantly higher increase compared to the control group (p< 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The application of a combination of a neck stabilization exercise and a breathing retraining exercise to patients with a chronic stroke can increase activity of respiratory muscles and MVV.

Effects of the centrifugal contraction exercise of the rectus abdominis accompanied with the isometric exercise of the transversus abdominis on pain and balance of lower back pain patients

[Purpose] The current study attempted to examine the effects of centrifugal contraction exercise of the rectus abdominis during the isometric contraction of the transversus abdominis on pain and balance of patients with chronic back pain. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects included thirty patients who were diagnosed with back pain due to causes other than neurological by a specialist after conducting a medical precision diagnosis. The experiment was performed after evenly dividing the subjects into two groups, namely, control and experimental, using a random method. This study measured pain by using the visual analog scale. To determine the patients' balancing ability using the Multifunktionale trainsgerate balance measurer. [Results] All groups showed a statistically significant within-group difference in visual analog scale and balance change. However, no significant between-group difference was observed in the comparison of therapy effects. [Conclusion] Strengthening the rectus abdominis can be an important factor for increasing the stability and reducing the pain of the lumbar area among patients with back pain.