Electromyographic Study of Exercise Tasks for Lumbar Stabilization of Healthy Subjects

Abstract

[Purpose] To examine electromyographically what kind of exercise tasks are effective for muscle activity as basic research into effective training for local muscle groups, such as the transversus abdominis and lumbar multifidus, for the purpose of preventing low back pain. [Participants and Methods] Twenty healthy adult males were included in this study. Eight exercise conditions, including abdominal hollowing (AH), abdominal bracing (AB), and other exercise tasks, were set up, and the muscle activities of the right transversus abdominis muscle and lumbar multifidus muscle were recorded by wire electromyography and compared and examined. [Results] The transversus abdominis showed the greatest activity during AB with expiration, and the lumbar multifidus during AB. [Conclusion] The results suggest that there is no uniform method of training muscles for the prevention of low back pain, and that appropriate training for dysfunctional muscles is necessary.