Trunk muscle activity during different variations of the supine plank exercise

Joaquin Calatayud; Jose Casaña; Fernando Martín; Markus D. Jakobsen; Juan Carlos Colado; Pedro Gargallo; Álvaro Juesas; Víctor Muñoz; Lars L. Andersen

doi:10.1016/j.msksp.2017.01.011

Trunk muscle activity during different variations of the supine plank exercise

Joaquin Calatayud, Jose Casaña, Fernando Martín, Markus D. Jakobsen, Juan Carlos Colado, Pedro Gargallo, Álvaro Juesas, Víctor Muñoz, Lars L. Andersen

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

25 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Exercises providing neuromuscular challenges of the spinal muscles are desired for core stability, which is important for workers with heavy manual labour as well as people recovering from back pain.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated whether using a suspended modality increases trunk muscle activity during unilateral or bilateral isometric supine planks.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional.

METHODS: Twenty university students participated in this cross-sectional study. Each subject performed four different conditions: bilateral stable supine plank, unilateral stable supine plank, bilateral suspended supine plank and unilateral suspended supine plank. Surface electromyography (EMG) signals were recorded for the upper rectus abdominis (UP ABS), lower rectus abdominis (LOW ABS), external oblique (OBLIQ) and lumbar erector spinae (LUMB). Peak EMG of the filtered signals were normalized to the maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC).

RESULTS: No differences between exercises were found for UP ABS, LOW ABS and OBLIQ muscle activity. The unilateral suspended supine plank provided the highest LUMB activity (20% of MVIC) whiles the bilateral stable supine plank provided the lowest activity (11% of MVIC).

CONCLUSIONS: The combination of unilateral variations with a suspended support provides the greatest LUMB muscle activity, while using these variations separately only provides advantages when compared with regular planks.

Original language	English
Journal	Musculoskeletal Science & Practice
Volume	28
Pages (from-to)	54-58
ISSN	1356-689X
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msksp.2017.01.011
Publication status	Published - 2017

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@article{ccb98bd32e2a4982984d09e927320a50,

title = "Trunk muscle activity during different variations of the supine plank exercise",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Exercises providing neuromuscular challenges of the spinal muscles are desired for core stability, which is important for workers with heavy manual labour as well as people recovering from back pain.PURPOSE: This study evaluated whether using a suspended modality increases trunk muscle activity during unilateral or bilateral isometric supine planks.DESIGN: Cross-sectional.METHODS: Twenty university students participated in this cross-sectional study. Each subject performed four different conditions: bilateral stable supine plank, unilateral stable supine plank, bilateral suspended supine plank and unilateral suspended supine plank. Surface electromyography (EMG) signals were recorded for the upper rectus abdominis (UP ABS), lower rectus abdominis (LOW ABS), external oblique (OBLIQ) and lumbar erector spinae (LUMB). Peak EMG of the filtered signals were normalized to the maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC).RESULTS: No differences between exercises were found for UP ABS, LOW ABS and OBLIQ muscle activity. The unilateral suspended supine plank provided the highest LUMB activity (20% of MVIC) whiles the bilateral stable supine plank provided the lowest activity (11% of MVIC).CONCLUSIONS: The combination of unilateral variations with a suspended support provides the greatest LUMB muscle activity, while using these variations separately only provides advantages when compared with regular planks.",

author = "Joaquin Calatayud and Jose Casa{\~n}a and Fernando Mart{\'i}n and Jakobsen, {Markus D.} and Colado, {Juan Carlos} and Pedro Gargallo and {\'A}lvaro Juesas and V{\'i}ctor Mu{\~n}oz and Andersen, {Lars L.}",

year = "2017",

doi = "10.1016/j.msksp.2017.01.011",

language = "English",

volume = "28",

pages = "54--58",

journal = "Musculoskeletal Science & Practice",

issn = "1356-689X",

publisher = "Elsevier",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Trunk muscle activity during different variations of the supine plank exercise

AU - Calatayud, Joaquin

AU - Casaña, Jose

AU - Martín, Fernando

AU - Jakobsen, Markus D.

AU - Colado, Juan Carlos

AU - Gargallo, Pedro

AU - Juesas, Álvaro

AU - Muñoz, Víctor

AU - Andersen, Lars L.

PY - 2017

Y1 - 2017

N2 - BACKGROUND: Exercises providing neuromuscular challenges of the spinal muscles are desired for core stability, which is important for workers with heavy manual labour as well as people recovering from back pain.PURPOSE: This study evaluated whether using a suspended modality increases trunk muscle activity during unilateral or bilateral isometric supine planks.DESIGN: Cross-sectional.METHODS: Twenty university students participated in this cross-sectional study. Each subject performed four different conditions: bilateral stable supine plank, unilateral stable supine plank, bilateral suspended supine plank and unilateral suspended supine plank. Surface electromyography (EMG) signals were recorded for the upper rectus abdominis (UP ABS), lower rectus abdominis (LOW ABS), external oblique (OBLIQ) and lumbar erector spinae (LUMB). Peak EMG of the filtered signals were normalized to the maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC).RESULTS: No differences between exercises were found for UP ABS, LOW ABS and OBLIQ muscle activity. The unilateral suspended supine plank provided the highest LUMB activity (20% of MVIC) whiles the bilateral stable supine plank provided the lowest activity (11% of MVIC).CONCLUSIONS: The combination of unilateral variations with a suspended support provides the greatest LUMB muscle activity, while using these variations separately only provides advantages when compared with regular planks.

AB - BACKGROUND: Exercises providing neuromuscular challenges of the spinal muscles are desired for core stability, which is important for workers with heavy manual labour as well as people recovering from back pain.PURPOSE: This study evaluated whether using a suspended modality increases trunk muscle activity during unilateral or bilateral isometric supine planks.DESIGN: Cross-sectional.METHODS: Twenty university students participated in this cross-sectional study. Each subject performed four different conditions: bilateral stable supine plank, unilateral stable supine plank, bilateral suspended supine plank and unilateral suspended supine plank. Surface electromyography (EMG) signals were recorded for the upper rectus abdominis (UP ABS), lower rectus abdominis (LOW ABS), external oblique (OBLIQ) and lumbar erector spinae (LUMB). Peak EMG of the filtered signals were normalized to the maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC).RESULTS: No differences between exercises were found for UP ABS, LOW ABS and OBLIQ muscle activity. The unilateral suspended supine plank provided the highest LUMB activity (20% of MVIC) whiles the bilateral stable supine plank provided the lowest activity (11% of MVIC).CONCLUSIONS: The combination of unilateral variations with a suspended support provides the greatest LUMB muscle activity, while using these variations separately only provides advantages when compared with regular planks.

U2 - 10.1016/j.msksp.2017.01.011

DO - 10.1016/j.msksp.2017.01.011

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 28171779

SN - 1356-689X

VL - 28

SP - 54

EP - 58

JO - Musculoskeletal Science & Practice

JF - Musculoskeletal Science & Practice

ER -

Trunk muscle activity during different variations of the supine plank exercise

Abstract

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