This paper is only available as a PDF. To read, Please Download here.
Abstract
Objective: To compare the intensity of the upper versus lower rectus abdominis (RA) muscle activity provoked by each of two different abdominal exercises and to contrast the intensity of contraction elicited by two different abdominal exercises on each RA muscle portion.
Design: Nonrandomized control trial.
Setting: Kinesiology laboratory in a university medicine faculty.
Participants: Convenience sample of 33 healthy volunteers. Subjects who had practiced endurance or strength training activities (1.5 hours 3 days a week for 3 years) and those who had not accomplished that criterion comprised a high and a low physical activity group, respectively. Each of these two groups was divided by the ability to perform the exercises into two subgroups: correct and incorrect performers (cp, ic).
Main Outcome Measure: Average surface iEMG was compared between upper and lower RA and on each muscle portion performing curl-up (CU) and posterior pelvic tilt (PT) exercises. The coefficient of variation, a two-way analysis of variance, and the t test were calculated.
Results: The upper RA showed significantly greater activity during performance of CU exercise by the cp subgroups of both high (t = 2.14302, 95%) and low (t = 2.35875, 95%) activity groups. Only the cp subgroup of the high activity group showed that PT was significantly more strenuous than CU exercise on lower RA (t = -2.06467, 95%).
Conclusions: Among correct performers, CU produces greater activity on upper RA. For persons who have a high level of activity, PT is more strenuous than CU on lower RA. Among incorrect performers, either exercise indistinctly activates the muscle portions.
References
- The contribution of the rectus femoris in twelve selected abdominal exercises.in: An electromyographic study. 2nd ed. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 31. 1991: 222-230
- Williams PL Warwick R Gray's Anatomy. Salvat, Barcelona1985
- Palastanga N Field D Soames R Anatomy and Human Movement. Heinemann Medical Books, London1989
- Rouviere H Delmas A Anatomia Humana. 2nd ed. Descriptiva, topografica y funcional. Masson, Barcelona1987
- Moore KL Anatomia con orientación clinica. Medica Panamericana SA, Madrid1986
- Electromyographic study of the anterior abdominal wall muscles in man.J Anat. 1950; 84: 132-145
- Participation of the abdominal muscles in various movements of the trunk in man.in: An electromyographic study. 2nd ed. Phys Ther Rev. 39. 1959: 791-800
- Electromyographic study of abdominal muscular activity during exercise.Res Quart. 1965; 36: 29-37
- Electromyographic study of the rectus abdominis and external oblique muscles during exercises.Electromyogr Clin Neurophysiol. 1984; 24: 501-510
- An electromyographic study of four abdominal exercises.Med Sci Sports. 1970; 2: 35-38
- Electromyographic study of the abdominal muscles in walking and other movements.Am J Phys Med. 1962; 4: 143-147
Monfort M, Sarti MA, Sanchis C. Actividad eléctrica del músculo recto mayor del abdomen en ejercicios abdominales. Estudio cualitativo. Apunts de Medicina deportiva. In press.
- Electromyographic study of the anterolateral abdominal Musculature utilizing indwelling electrodes.Am J Phys Med. 1972; 51: 113-129
- Techniques for active lumbar stabilization for spinal protection: a pilot study.Aust Physother. 1992; 38: 105-112
- An electromyographic investigation of the rectus abdominis in abdominal exercises.Res R Am Assoc Health Phys. 1971; 42: 256-263
- Skin preparation for surface EMG.in: Proceedings of the Bicentennial National APA Conference, 1988; Canberra, Australia1988: 11-29
- Hydrodinamycs and electromyography: ergonomics aspects in aquatics.Appl Ergonomics. 1983; 16: 11-24
- A Review of EMG in swimming, explanation of facts and/or feedback information.in: 2nd ed. Swimming Science IV. Human Kinetics, Champaign (IL)1985: 123-145
- Electromyography and the study of sports movements: a review.J Sports Sci. 1993; 11: 379-448
- Sit up exercises: an electromyographyc study.Clin Orthop. 1979; 172: 172-178
- Electromyographic study of duration muscle activity in sit ups variations.Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1977; 58: 132-135
- Neuromuscular adaptations during the acquisition of muscle strength, power and motor tasks.J Biomech. 1993; 26: 95S-107S
- Nachemsom A Elfström G Intravital dynamic pressure measurements in lumbar discs. Almqvist & Wiksell, Stockholm1970
- Torque, work and power differences in bentknee and straight situps in women [abstract].Med Sci Sports. 1975; 7: 77
- Biomechanichs of sit up exercises.Med Sci Sports Exer. 1981; 13: 54-59
- Activation of abdominal muscles during some physiotherapeutic exercises.Scand J Rehabil Med. 1979; 11: 75-84
Article Info
Publication History
Accepted:
May 1,
1996
Received:
February 15,
1996
Footnotes
☆Supported by Generalitat Valenciana, Conselleria de Cultura Educación y Ciencia, Project GV-1059/93.
☆☆No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the authors or upon any organization with which the authors are associated.
Identification
Copyright
© 1996 Published by Elsevier Inc.
