Electromyographic and Stabilometric Analysis of the Static and Dynamic “Standing Bird Dog” Exercise

Abstract

(1) Background: The “bird dog” exercise is considered one of the most effective therapeutic exercises for lumbopelvic rehabilitation and the prevention and treatment of low back pain. The “standing bird dog” (SBD) exercise, executed in a single-leg stance, constitutes a natural and challenging variation in the “bird dog”; nevertheless, this exercise has not yet been investigated. This study provides a stabilometric and electromyographic analysis of the SBD performed in static and dynamic conditions and in ipsilateral and contralateral variations; (2) Methods: A time-synchronized motion capture system, wireless electromyography sensors, and triaxial force platform were used to analyze the selected SBD exercises; (3) Results: In dynamic conditions, the gluteus maximum, multifidus, lumbar erector spinae, and gluteus medius reached a mean activation level higher than in the static condition, with peak activation levels of 80%, 60%, 55%, and a 45% maximum voluntary isometric contraction, respectively. In the static condition, balance control was more challenging in the mediolateral compared to the anteroposterior direction. In the dynamic condition, the balance challenge was higher in the anteroposterior direction and higher than the static condition in both directions; (4) Conclusions: The SBD was proved to be effective for strengthening the hip and lumbar extensor muscles and provided a powerful challenge to single-leg balance control in both mediolateral and anteroposterior directions.

Ipsilateral versus contralateral static endurance- balance abilities among healthy college students

“… 5 , 9 Clinicians have also devised different variations of the core exercises using biomechanical features to render the exercises more challenging and to produce higher levels of muscle activation. 5 , 6 , 10 …”

Bilateral Activity of Spine Extensors and Rotators during Asymmetric Lumbar Stabilization Exercises Executed in Prone, Quadruped, and Standing-Prone Positions

“…Currently, there is a lack of EMG data for isolated arm rises and leg rises from the prone position, as well as for the simultaneous rise of an upper limb and the ipsilateral lower limb (ipsilateral arm-leg rise) from the prone and quadruped positions. A recent EMG study from our laboratory analyzed lumbar multifidus and erector spinae activity during the ipsilateral and contralateral arm-leg rise from the standing-prone position [28]. However, the oblique muscle activity was not recorded.…”