Abstract
The importance of an interaction between trunk stability muscles and hip muscle function has been suggested. However, reported exercises rarely act on the trunk and hip muscles simultaneously. Here, we devised an abdominal oblique and hip muscle exercise, the Self-oblique exercise (SOE). We examined whether SOE activated abdominal and hip muscles in the supine and half-kneeling positions, compared with abdominal crunch (AC) and plank exercises; and whether participants could modulate the exercise load. Participants were 20 healthy males with some sports experience such as football and baseball on average 10.5 ± 4.0 years. Participants applied self-pressure to their right thighs using the contralateral upper limb with 40% or 70% of the maximum force in Supine SOE and Half- kneeling SOE. The following abdominal and hip muscles were measured using surface electromyography: bilateral external obliques (EO), bilateral internal obliques (IO), right rectus abdominis, right gluteus medius (GMed), and right adductor longus (ADD). All evaluated muscle groups showed significant differences between exercises (p < 0.001). Supine SOE-70% showed 80.4% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) for left EO (p < 0.017), 61.4% MVC for right IO (p < 0.027), 24.3% MVC for GMed (p < 0.002), and 42.4% MVC for ADD (p < 0.004); these were significantly greatest among all exercises. Muscle activity during Supine SOE-70% was greater than that during Supine SOE-40%. Similarly, Half-kneeling SOE-40% promoted abdominal and hip muscle exertion, and showed more significant activity in GMed (p < 0.006) and ADD (p < 0.001) than AC and plank. SOE could activate abdominal and hip muscles depends on the pressure applied by upper limb. Also, SOE allows participants to modulate the exercise load in a self-controlled step by step manner. Modulation of the exercise load is difficult in AC or plank compared to SOE, and AC or plank cannot obtain simultaneous oblique and hip muscle activity. SOE could be practiced anywhere, in various positions, without any tools.
Highlights
Core stabilization exercises are often used for lower limb musculoskeletal training and injury prevention [1]
Trunk stabilizing exercises with unilateral isometric hip rotation in the supine position effectively activated ipsilateral internal obliques (IO) [20], while unilateral dumbbell lifting in the sitting position increased contralateral external obliques (EO) muscle activity [21]. These findings suggest that the load on the unilateral limb effectively promotes activity of the oblique muscles to counter the rotational moment acting on the trunk
The results showed that Selfoblique exercise (SOE) elicited coordinated muscle activity of EO, IO, gluteus medius (GMed), and adductor longus (ADD) muscles more effectively than abdominal crunch (AC) and plank
Summary
Core stabilization exercises are often used for lower limb musculoskeletal training and injury prevention [1]. The addition of contraction of deep abdominal muscles increased hip muscle activity during hip exercise [5]. Systematic reviews have shown the importance of trunk muscle function in preventing lower limb injury [6]. Poor trunk strength and control, as well as hip muscle function, are associated with risk factors for lower limb injury [9,10,11]. These findings indicate the importance of coordinated trunk and hip activity, few exercises simultaneously activate these muscles
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