Electromyographic activities of trunk muscles during stability exercises from Pilates method

Abstract

Objective. The purpose of this study was to compare the electromyographic (EMG) activity of trunk muscles during stability exercises from Pilates method.

Method. Participants were 10 healthy undergraduate students (20.9 ± 2.4 years,162.7 ± 6.7 cm in height; 61.7 ± 6.4 kg body weight and 13.2 ± 5.2 % body fat) with previous Pilates experience. The Pilates exercises: superman (SU), swimming (SW), breaststroke (BS), hip extension (HE) and quadruped arm and lower extremity lift (QA) were performed using maximum isometric effort. The EMG signal of multifidus (MD), dorsal longissimus (DL) and iliocostalis (IC) were recorded. The normalization of the EMG signal was performed using maximum voluntary contraction (% MVC). In statistics treatment, were applied the Shapiro-Wilk test followed by one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc (p < 0.05).

Results. The exercises SU, SW, BS, and HE showed higher levels of muscle activation (> 40 % MVC) for DL and IC, however, during the QA was observed a significant reduction on muscle activation for all monitored muscles compared to other exercises.

Conclusion. Therefore, the above exercises can be performed looking for improve the trunk muscle activation and spine stability, as well as the results found in the current study can be a reference to select exercises during training programs for low back muscles.