Comparing Three Types of Core Stabilization Exercises Using Surface Electromyography

Abstract

Core stabilization has been used to strengthen trunk muscles, prevent, and treat spine injuries. There are many types of core exercises, however few studies have assessed muscle activity. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare muscle activity using surface electromyography (sEMG) of eight muscles during pilates(P), ball(B), and traditional (T) exercises during supine and prone positions. METHODS: Twenty six subjects (age=40.3 + 6.7 yrs; BMI=25.7+ 6.7 kg.m2). sEMG electrodes were placed over rectus femoris RF, rectus abdominis RA, external oblique EO, internal oblique IO, biceps femoris BF, gluteus medius GM, paraspinals PS, and latissimus dorsi LD. Subjects were randomly assigned an order for P, T, and B and asked to perform five repetitions of supine oblique crunch and prone opposite upper and lower extremity for each program. Raw EMG signals were full wave rectified, smoothed and normalized to each respective maximal isometric voluntary contraction of the 8 muscles and expressed as %MVC. Within repeated measure ANOVAs were performed for each muscle to examine within subject difference across 3 conditions, (p<0.05). RESULTS: Peak sEMG for supine for RF was higher for B (47.7+ 27.70%) and P (53.6+ 29.96%) than T (16.3+ 20.90%). Area sEMG activity during supine for GM was higher for B (58.0+ 32.39%) and P (48.5+ 20.97%) than T(35.2+ 18.85%). Peak sEMG for prone IO was higher for B (58.4+ 29.79%) versus P (42.1+ 35.08%) and T(42.7+ 28.39%), BF was higher for P (73.8+ 48.50%) and T (52.7+ 26.26%) compared to B(39.35+ 21.79%). GM was higher for P (93.6+ 36.57%) versus B (70.1+ 26.88%) and T(67.5+ 29.32%), PS was higher for P (89.4+ 35.99%) compared to B (66.3+ 20.45%) and T(64.1+ 21.40%). Area sEMG for prone for EO was higher during B (42.6+ 26.79%) than P (29.1+ 19.33%) and T(27.3+ 15.44%), IO was higher for B (34.5+ 21.56%) than P (19.8+ 18.85%) and T(22.2+ 17.58%), BF was higher for T(42.0+ 28.24%) and P (50.4+ 34.37%) compared B(25.6+ 18.37%), and PS was higher during P (68.8+ 26.53%) than B (45.7+ 24.21%) and T(47.5+ 20.02%). CONCLUSIONS: It appears that ball exercises elicit higher RF and GM activity during supine position compared to pilates and traditional floor exercises. During the prone exercises, IO and EO activity was found to be higher during ball exercises while BF, PS, and GM were more active during pilates exercises.