Surface electromyography comparison of the abdominal hypopressive gymnastics against the prone bridge exercise

  • Gonzalo Alfonso Quiroz Sandoval Biomechanics Laboratory. School of Health Sciences. Arturo Prat University Iquique. Chile.
  • Nathalie Tabilo Biomechanics Laboratory. School of Health Sciences. Arturo Prat University Iquique. Chile.
  • Cristóbal Bahamondes Biomechanics Laboratory. School of Health Sciences. Arturo Prat University Iquique. Chile.
  • Pilar Bralic Biomechanics Laboratory. School of Health Sciences. Arturo Prat University Iquique. Chile.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.33155/j.ramd.2019.03.010
Keywords: Electromiografía, Pared abdominal, Gimnasia, Suelo pélvico, Oblícuo Abdominal, Músculos, Ejercicio terapéutico, Recto abdominal, Voluntarios sanos Electromyography, Abdominal wall, Gymnastics, Pelvic floor, Abdominal oblique, Muscles, Exercise, Rectus abdominalis, Healthy volunteers Eletromiografia, Parede Abdominal, Ginástica, Chão pélvico, Abdominal oblique, Músculos, Exercício terapêutico, Reto abdominal, Voluntários saudáveis

Abstract

Objectives: Abdominal hypopressive gymnastics (AHG) is a little-researched method designed to train the muscles of the abdominal wall and pelvic floor under low stress. This study’s objective is to compare levels of muscle activation in AHG against prone bridge by surface electromyography (sEMG) of the abdominal wall muscles.

Methods: Twenty healthy subjects were enrolled to measure the muscle activity of the rectus abdominis (RA), transversus abdominis/internal oblique (Tra/IO), and external oblique (EO) during three exercises: prone bridge (PB), orthostatic hypopressive (OH), and hypopressive bridge (HB). Root mean square values normalized to the PB (%PB) as a baseline were used to compare the PB against OH and HB.

Results: The median PB ratio (%PB) for the Tra/IO showed –10.31% and +59.7% activation during OH and the HB, respectively, whereas the RA showed –77.8% and +19.3% and the EO –39.8% and +9.8%. Significant differences were found for all muscles except the Tra/IO during the OH.

Conclusion: This study’s results suggest that hypopressive exercises facilitate the activation of the Tra/IO similar to bridge exercises while simultaneously reducing RA and EO activity. This suggests that hypopressive training is a valid alternative for activating the abdominal muscles, isolating the Tra/IO at low intra-abdominal pressure.

Published
2019-03-26
Issue
Vol. 12 No. 3 (2019): September 2019
Section
Originals
Page/s
243-246
DOI
https://doi.org/10.33155/j.ramd.2019.03.010