Supine Bridge Exercise: A Narrative Review of the Literature (Part I)

Abstract

This article represents the first part of a larger work aimed at exploring the use of the supine bridge exercise (SBE) for both therapeutic and preventive purposes concerning lower back and hip joint pathologies, which will be presented in a subsequent article. The current article presents various execution modes of SBE found in the literature. It discusses what is involved in performing the traditional SBE with different angles at the ankle, knee, hip, and spine. It also addresses SBE variations, such as (1) single-leg; (2) with simultaneous activation of the hip adductors; (3) with simultaneous activation of the hip abductors; (4) with elevated upper trunk support; and (5) with foot-elevated support on a stable or unstable surface. Additionally, it reviews the literature on how different methods of performing the SBE engage muscles responsible for the stability of the hip, pelvis, and lumbar spine, including the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, hamstrings, erector spinae, multifidus, transversus abdominis, and external oblique. The aim of this article is to serve as a practical guide or "manual" for utilizing SBE across a variety of rehabilitative contexts, providing insights into how the exercise can be adapted to target specific muscles effectively in different clinical scenarios.