Abstract
BackgroundSurface instability is a common addition to traditional rehabilitation and strength exercises with the aim of increasing muscle activity, increasing exercise difficulty and improving joint proprioception. The aim of the current study was to determine if performing upper body closed kinetic chain exercises on a labile surface (Swiss ball) influences myoelectric amplitude when compared with a stable surface.MethodsThirteen males were recruited from a convenience sample of college students. Surface electromyograms were recorded from the triceps, pectoralis major, latissimus dorsi, rectus abdominis and external oblique while performing push up exercises with the feet or hands placed on a bench and separately on a Swiss ball. A push up plus exercise was also evaluated with hands on the support surface.Results and discussionNot all muscles responded with an increase in muscle activity. The pectoralis major muscle was not influenced by surface stability. The triceps and rectus abdominis muscles showed increases in muscle activity only when the hands were on the unstable surface. The external oblique muscle was only influenced by surface stability during the performance of the push up plus exercise. No muscle showed a change in activation level when the legs were supported by the Swiss ball instead of the bench.ConclusionMuscle activity can be influenced by the addition of surface instability however an increase in muscle activity does not influence all muscles in all conditions. The relationship between the participant's center of mass, the location of the unstable surface and the body part contacting the Swiss ball may be important factors in determining the muscle activation changes following changes in surface stability.
Highlights
Exercise balls, wobble boards and other labile surfaces commonly replace stable surfaces during the performance of resistance training exercises for both injury management and performance improvement
Muscle activity can be influenced by the addition of surface instability an increase in muscle activity does not influence all muscles in all conditions
Others have shown inconsistent changes across subjects with no statistical increase in muscle activity when replacing a Swiss ball for an exercise bench during resistance exercises for the upper body [6,8] and changes dependent upon centre of gravity location relative to the unstable surface during bridging/core stability exercises [9,10]
Summary
Wobble boards and other labile surfaces commonly replace stable surfaces during the performance of resistance training exercises for both injury management and performance improvement. It is often assumed that performing a resistance exercise on unstable surfaces results in greater muscle activity in an attempt to achieve joint stability. This assumption has mixed and somewhat sparse support. Others have shown inconsistent changes across subjects with no statistical increase in muscle activity when replacing a Swiss ball for an exercise bench during resistance exercises for the upper body [6,8] and changes dependent upon centre of gravity location relative to the unstable surface during bridging/core stability exercises [9,10]. Surface instability is a common addition to traditional rehabilitation and strength exercises with the aim of increasing muscle activity, increasing exercise difficulty and improving joint proprioception. The aim of the current study was to determine if performing upper body closed kinetic chain exercises on a labile surface (Swiss ball) influences myoelectric amplitude when compared with a stable surface
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have