Core Muscle Activation During Swiss Ball and Traditional Abdominal Exercises

Abstract

Rafael f. escamilla, PT, PhD, CSCS, FACSM1 • Clare lewis, PT, PsyD, MPH, MTC, FAAOMPT2 • DunCan Bell, MPT3 Gwen BramBlet, MPT3 • Jason Daffron, MPT3 • steve lamBert, MPT3 • amanDa PeCson, MPT3 roDney imamura, PhD 4 • lonnie Paulos, MD 5 • James r. anDrews, MD 6 Core Muscle Activation During Swiss Ball and Traditional Abdominal Exercises t he "core" has been used to refer to the lumbopelvic-hip complex, which involves deeper muscles, such as the internal oblique, transversus abdominis, transversospinalis (multifidus, rotatores, semispinalis), quadratus lumborum, and psoas major and minor, and superficial muscles, such as the rectus abdominis, external oblique, erector spinae (iliocostalis, spinalis, longissimus), t ConClusions: The roll-out and pike were the most effective exercises in activating upper and lower rectus abdominis, external and internal obliques, and latissimus dorsi muscles, while minimizing lumbar paraspinals and rectus femoris activity .

Guidelines and pitfalls for the rehabilitation following hip arthroscopy

“…Trunk strengthening should now focus on global musculature in all planes, since deep core activation has previously been established. EMG analysis of trunk musculature has shown that bridging, exercise ball crunches, forward roll outs, prone dips, pikes, and quadruped opposite arm and leg lifts are most effective at activation the trunk and hip extensors [27,35].…”

“…Iliopsoas isometrics with simultaneous core activation and trunk extensor activation should also be performed in this position and will help to reestablish the hip flexor and lumbar extensor force couple during open chain hip flexion [19,25]. Global trunk musculature including the oblique externus and internus, rectus abdominus, and erector spinae causes movement of the trunk and controls load transfer from the lower extremities to the pelvis and spine [26,27]. Muscle activation of these groups is also important during this phase to reestablish appropriate load transfer during weight bearing and as the patient becomes more independent with activity of daily living.…”

Normalization of EMG Signals: To Normalize or Not to Normalize and What to Normalize to?

“…• shoulder abduction at 90°, internal rotation (seated) [28] • shoulder abduction at 90°, elbow flexed to 90° (seated) [34] • shoulder external rotation and abduction, shoulder abducted to 20°, elbow flexed to 90°, no shoulder flexion [29] infraspinatus • shoulder external rotation, arm at side, elbow flexed to 90° (seated) [28,31,34] • shoulder external rotation, shoulder abducted to 45°, elbow flexed to 90°, no shoulder flexion [29] subscapularis • shoulder internal rotation, arm at side, elbow flexed to 90° (seated) [28,34] • shoulder internal rotation, shoulder abducted to 45°, elbow flexed to 90°, no shoulder flexion [29] latissimus dorsi • shoulder depression with resistance or adduction and internal rotation, arm at side (seated) [28] • shoulder extension and internal rotation with arm straight, abducted to 30° in the coronal plane and internally rotated [29] • shoulder extension (prone lying) [35,36] serratus anterior • scapular protraction, shoulder abducted to 90°-100° (seated) [28] • scapular protraction, elbow flexed to 45°, shoulder abducted to 75° and internally rotated to 45° [29] upper rectus abdominis…”

“…• trunk flexion, hips and knees flexed to 90°, feet supported, trunk in full flexion (supine) [35,36] • trunk flexion, legs bent at 45°,and secured, trunk position not mentioned (supine) [37] internal oblique • trunk flexion and lateral flexion, hips and knees flexed to 90°, feet supported, trunk in full flexion and rotated contra-laterally (supine) [35] • trunk flexion and lateral flexion, hips and knees flexed to 90°, feet supported, trunk in full flexion and rotated ipsi-laterally (supine) [36] gluteus maximus • hip extension, hip flexed 45° (prone) [38] • back extension, hip flexed 30° (seated) [39] • hip abduction at 10° abduction, leg fully extended (side lying) contra-lateral knee and hip flexed 30° [40] gluteus medius…”

“…• knee extension, knee flexed 90°, hip flexed 90° (sitting) [38,43] • knee extension, knee flexed 60°, hip flexed 90° (sitting) [44,45] • knee extension, knee flexed 45° (sitting) [37] vastus medialis • knee extension, knee flexed 60° (sitting) [44,45] • knee extension, knee flexed 90°, hip flexed 90° (sitting) [43] rectus femoris • knee extension, knee flexed 90°, hip flexed 80° to 90° (sitting) [35,36,38,43] • knee extension, knee flexed 60°, hip flexed 90° (sitting) [44][45][46] lateral hamstring (biceps femoris) long head…”