Electrical Activity of Powerhouse Muscles During the Teaser Exercise of Pilates Using Different Types of Apparatus

2016 ◽  
Vol 124 (2) ◽  
pp. 452-461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Débora da Rocha Werba ◽  
Débora Cantergi ◽  
Leandro Tolfo Franzoni ◽  
Alex de Oliveira Fagundes ◽  
Jefferson Fagundes Loss ◽  
...  

We compared the electrical activity of certain powerhouse muscles—External Oblique, Multifidus, Adductor Longus, and Gluteus Medius—during the teaser exercise of the Pilates Method, performed on various types of apparatus—the Mat, Reformer, and Wall Unit. Fifteen female practitioners of the Classic Pilates Method (32.6 ± 7.7 years old; 21.9 ± 1.9 body mass index) performed the teaser in each situation while electromyographic (EMG) and kinematic data were collected. Root mean square values of the flexion phase were compared. All muscles showed higher EMG activity in Reformer compared with Wall Unit, and Multifidus, Adductor Longus, and Gluteus Medius showed higher EMG activity in Mat compared with Wall Unit. No difference was found between Reformer and Mat.

Author(s):  
Wei-Han Chen ◽  
Wen-Wen Yang ◽  
Ya-Chen Liu ◽  
Wen-Hsuan Pan ◽  
Chiang Liu

Hula hoops are a popular piece of fitness equipment used to attempt to slim the waistline and improve core muscle endurance. Although there are obvious visible movements at the waist and hip, no study has quantified the intensity of muscle activity during hula hooping. Therefore, this study analyzed muscle activation in the torso and hip during hula hooping. Because injury to the waist often occurs after prolonged, repeated impact between the waist and a hula hoop, this study developed a novel waist fitness hoop that eliminates impact, called the “Mini Hoop,” and determined the effects of mini hooping on hip movement and muscle activation. A total of 16 healthy females performed hula hooping and mini hooping at a self-selected pace. Results showed that hula hooping caused larger muscle activation, with 46%–49% maximum voluntary isometric contraction for the external oblique, spinal erectors, and gluteus medius, whereas gluteus maximus and adductor longus muscle activation were with 22%–29% maximum voluntary isometric contraction. Mini hooping required a smaller range of hip motion in flexion, extension, abduction/adduction, higher pelvic oscillation frequency, and lower muscle activation for the external oblique, spinal erectors, gluteus medius, gluteus maximus, and adductor longus (13%–33% maximum voluntary isometric contraction) compared with hula hooping ( p < 0.05). In conclusion, hula hooping and mini hooping differ in their range of hip motion, pelvic oscillation frequency, and muscle activation requirements. Hula hooping is suitable for moderate-intensity core muscle activation, whereas the Mini Hoop is suitable for low-level core muscle activation.


1989 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 1408-1413 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Oliven ◽  
S. G. Kelsen

The present study examined the effects of hypercapnia and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) on the electromyographic (EMG) activity and tidal length changes of the expiratory muscles in 12 anesthetized, spontaneously breathing dogs. The integrated EMG activity of both abdominal (external oblique, internal oblique, rectus abdominis, and transverse abdominis) and thoracic (triangularis sterni, internal intercostal) expiratory muscles increased linearly with increasing PCO2 and PEEP. However, with both hypercapnia and PEEP, the percent increase in abdominal muscle electrical activity exceeded that of thoracic expiratory muscle activity. Both hypercapnia and PEEP increased the tidal shortening of the external oblique and rectus abdominis muscles. Changes in tidal length correlated closely with simultaneous increases in muscle electrical activity. However, during both hypercapnia and PEEP, length changes of the external oblique were significantly greater than those of the rectus abdominis. We conclude that both progressive hypercapnia and PEEP increase the electrical activity of all expiratory muscles and augment their tidal shortening but produce quantitatively different responses in the several expiratory muscles.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 102-111
Author(s):  
Farideh Babakhani ◽  

Objective Numerous abdominal exercises with Swiss ball are used to improve core stability with strengthening and rehabilitation goals. It is claimed that the stability exercises have a greater impact on core muscle activation, but the validity of this claim is still in doubt. Moreover, there is no comprehensive study on the comparison of the core muscles activity in different core stability exercises. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the Electromyography (EMG) activity of core muscles while performing side plank on stable and unstable (Swiss ball) surfaces. Methods Fifteen male students of Allameh Tabataba’i University were selected for the study based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The EMG activity of gluteus medius, rectus abdominis, external oblique, and internal oblique muscles in subjects was recorded while performing side plank exercise on a fixed surface and a Swiss ball (2 sets of 5 seconds with a 30-second rest interval). Results There was a significant difference in the EMG activity of gluteus medius, external oblique and rectus abdominis muscles between two conditions of with and without Swiss ball (P<0.05), but no significant difference was observed in the EMG activity of internal oblique muscle (P>0.05). Conclusion Side plank exercise on the unstable surfaces (Swiss balls) can cause changes in the EMG activity of gluteus medius, rectus abdominis and external oblique muscles compared to when the exercise is performed on stable surfaces, and highly involved the pelvic lumbar muscles effective in maintaining core stability. Therefore, the use of side plank exercise on unstable conditions in a progressive program with gradually increased intensity is recommended which can be effective in strengthening and applying effective muscle contractions useful for core stability.


1989 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 749-754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrienne L. Perlman ◽  
Erich S. Luschei ◽  
Charles E. Du Mond

The purpose of this investigation was to determine, in a quantitative manner, which, if any, nonswallowing tasks produce significant levels of activation in the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle of normal human subjects. Bipolar hooked wire electrodes were inserted in the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle of 15 healthy subjects. Electrode placement was controlled. Each subject performed two reflexive tasks, six voluntary tasks requiring phonation, and four nonspeech voluntary tasks. The electromyogram (EMG) was rectified and integrated. The resulting number was then transformed by taking its natural logarithm. An ANOVA was performed and a linear model was estimated. The magnitude of the EMG activity was related to the location of the electrodes. The largest values were recorded in the lateral-superior placement, followed by the lateral-inferior, medial-inferior and medial-superior. The superior pharyngeal contrictor was found to be a muscle activated primarily during reflexive activity. There was a general trend in the amplitude of EMG activity in relationship to task. Swallowing produced the greatest amount of activity and a gag produced about 60% of the activity produced by the swallow. Two tasks, production of the work /hk/ in which the phoneme /k/ was stressed, and a "modified Valsalva," which was actually a hard /k/ held for several seconds, produced the next greatest level of EMG.


Symmetry ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 23
Author(s):  
Yuping Li ◽  
Brady K. Quinn ◽  
Johan Gielis ◽  
Yirong Li ◽  
Peijian Shi

Many natural radial symmetrical shapes (e.g., sea stars) follow the Gielis equation (GE) or its twin equation (TGE). A supertriangle (three triangles arranged around a central polygon) represents such a shape, but no study has tested whether natural shapes can be represented as/are supertriangles or whether the GE or TGE can describe their shape. We collected 100 pieces of Koelreuteria paniculata fruit, which have a supertriangular shape, extracted the boundary coordinates for their vertical projections, and then fitted them with the GE and TGE. The adjusted root mean square errors (RMSEadj) of the two equations were always less than 0.08, and >70% were less than 0.05. For 57/100 fruit projections, the GE had a lower RMSEadj than the TGE, although overall differences in the goodness of fit were non-significant. However, the TGE produces more symmetrical shapes than the GE as the two parameters controlling the extent of symmetry in it are approximately equal. This work demonstrates that natural supertriangles exist, validates the use of the GE and TGE to model their shapes, and suggests that different complex radially symmetrical shapes can be generated by the same equation, implying that different types of biological symmetry may result from the same biophysical mechanisms.


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-160
Author(s):  
Catiane Souza ◽  
Edgar Santiago Wagner Neto ◽  
Fabiane De Oliveira Brauner ◽  
Debora Cantergi ◽  
Willian Dhein ◽  
...  

Introdução: A correta ativação da musculatura estabilizadora do tronco é essencial em diversas situações, inclusive prevenção e tratamento de lombalgias. A ativação adequada desses músculos é um princípio do Método Pilates, porém nem todos os efeitos das variações dos exercícios estão descritos da literatura. Objetivo: comparar a atividade elétrica de músculos do power house (reto abdominal, oblíquo externo, oblíquo interno/transverso abdominal e multífido) durante a execução do exercício Leg Circles no aparelho Cadillac com mola alta e com mola baixa. Métodos: Foram selecionadas 10 instrutoras de Pilates, 30 anos (±5), 58 Kg (±7), estatura 163 cm (±7) que foram submetidas a testes de contrações isométricas voluntárias máximas, e logo após, à realização do Leg Circles no Cadillac com a mola alta e baixa. Foi coletada a atividade elétrica dos músculos reto abdominal, oblíquo interno/transverso abdominal, oblíquo externo e multífido. Resultados: A ativação do oblíquo interno foi maior na mola alta (p=0,002), assim como a ativação do multífido (p=0,042). Já o oblíquo externo foi mais ativado na mola baixa (p=0,001). O reto abdominal não variou sua ativação (p=0,375). Conclusão: A mola alta pode ser acatada como a posição mais adequada para ativar a musculatura profunda do tronco, visto que nesta situação houve maior ativação do multífido e do oblíquo interno/transverso abdominal, somados à menor ativação do oblíquo externo e a baixa ativação no reto abdominal encontrados na situação com mola alta. ABSTRACT. Leg circles on Cadillac: effect of different spring positions on the activation of stabilizers in the trunk. Background: The correct activation of the trunk stabilizing muscles is essential in several situations, including prevention and treatment of low back pain. Proper activation of these muscles is a principle of the Pilates Method, but not all the effects of exercise variations are described in the literature. Objective: compare the electric activity of power house muscles (rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique/transverse abdominal and multifidus) during the execution of the Leg Circles exercise with high spring and low spring in Cadillac apparatus. Methods: Ten Pilates instructors were selected, with 30 years (±5), 58 kg (±7), 163 cm (±7) who underwent maximum voluntary isometric contraction tests before the execution of the Leg Circles on the Cadillac, with high and low spring. The electrical activity of the rectus abdominis, internal oblique/transverso abdominal, external oblique and multifidus muscles was collected. Results: The internal oblique (p=0,002) and the multifidus (p=0,042) activations were greater on the high spring. However, the external oblique showed a higher activation on the lower spring (p = 0.001). The abdominal rectus did not change its activation = 0.375). Conclusion: The high spring can be considered as the most suitable position to ac-tivate the deep musculature of the trunk, since the greater activation of the multifidus and of the internal oblique/transverse abdominal, together with the lower activation of the external oblique and the low acti-vation in the rectus abdominus found in the high spring situation.


1989 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 705-706 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Jaščaninas ◽  
B. Gutnik ◽  
A. Skurvydas ◽  
A. Stasiulis

8 measures recorded during alternate tapping of two targets by left and right hands for 15 boys, 13 or 14 yr. old, were made during 4 30-sec. trials using a force averaging 450 gm. Mechanical and electrical activity (EMG from m. biceps brachii) of both hands suggested asymmetric characteristics of the two hands and the likely involvement of different types of muscle fibers or asymmetry of the CNS.


2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 682-691 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kunal Bhanot ◽  
Navpreet Kaur ◽  
Lori Thein Brody ◽  
Jennifer Bridges ◽  
David C. Berry ◽  
...  

Context:Dynamic balance is a measure of core stability. Deficits in the dynamic balance have been related to injuries in the athletic populations. The Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) is suggested to measure and improve dynamic balance when used as a rehabilitative tool.Objective:To determine the electromyographic activity of the hip and the trunk muscles during the SEBT.Design:Descriptive.Setting:University campus.Participants:Twenty-two healthy adults (11 males and 11 females; 23.3 [3.8] y, 170.3 [7.6] cm, 67.8 [10.3] kg, and 15.1% [5.0%] body fat).Intervention:Surface electromyographic data were collected on 22 healthy adults of the erector spinae, external oblique, and rectus abdominis bilaterally, and gluteus medius and gluteus maximus muscle of the stance leg. A 2-way repeated measures analysis of variance was used to determine the interaction between the percentage maximal voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC) and the reach directions. The %MVIC for each muscle was compared across the 8 reach directions using the Sidak post hoc test withαat .05.Main Outcome Measures:%MVIC.Results:Significant differences were observed for all the 8 muscles. Highest electromyographic activity was found for the tested muscles in the following reach directions—ipsilateral external oblique (44.5% [38.4%]): anterolateral; contralateral external oblique (52.3% [40.8%]): medial; ipsilateral rectus abdominis (8% [6.6%]): anterior; contralateral rectus abdominis (8% [5.3%]): anteromedial; ipsilateral erector spinae (46.4% [20.2%]): posterolateral; contralateral erector spinae (33.5% [11.3%]): posteromedial; gluteus maximus (27.4% [11.7%]): posterior; and gluteus medius (54.6% [26.1%]): medial direction.Conclusions:Trunk and hip muscle activation was direction dependent during the SEBT. This information can be used during rehabilitation of the hip and the trunk muscles.


2018 ◽  
pp. 961-1000
Author(s):  
İmran Göker

In this chapter, the monitoring of the electrical activity of skeletal muscles is depicted. The main components of the detection and conditioning of the EMG signals is explained in the sense of the biomedical instrumentation. But, first, a brief description of EMG generation is introduced. The hardware components of the general instrumentation system used in the acquisition of EMG signal such as amplifier, filters, analog-to-digital converter are discussed in detail. Subsequently, different types of electrodes used in different EMG techniques are mentioned. Then, various EMG signals that can be detected and monitored via EMG systems are described and their clinical importance is discussed with detail. Finally, different EMG techniques used in clinical studies and their purposes are explained with detail.


1993 ◽  
Vol 70 (6) ◽  
pp. 2337-2349 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. C. Dunbar ◽  
J. M. Macpherson

1. The electromyographic (EMG) activity of the four neuromuscular compartments in lateral gastrocnemius (LG) of cats was investigated to determine whether these intramuscular subdivisions could be activated differentially during automatic postural corrections. EMG electrodes were surgically implanted into each of the four compartments of left LG-LG1, LG2, LG3, and LGm--in two cats. Electrodes were also implanted into soleus and gluteus medius for comparative purposes. 2. Quiet quadrupedal stance was disturbed first by linearly translating the cats on a movable platform in each of 16 different horizontal directions. Mechanical events during corrections were characterized in terms of the three-dimensional forces exerted by each paw on the platform. EMG and force traces were quantified (area under the curve) and normalized, and tuning curves were constructed that relate muscle response and force change to direction of platform movement. 3. In a second series of trials, translations were presented along one direction only over a series of six velocities ranging from 5 to 16 cm/s. The third series of perturbations, termed the pop-up, consisted of a rapid upward displacement of the support under the left hindlimb only over a series of six amplitudes ranging from 1 to 10 mm. Evoked EMG activity and average change in force were normalized and regressions were computed onto velocity and amplitude, respectively. The slopes of the regressions were compared. 4. EMG tuning curves associated with the multidirectional horizontal translations revealed no differential activity across LG compartments. Similarly, there was no statistical difference among the slopes of the regressions within LG. In contrast, soleus exhibited significantly different slopes from LG for the regressions. Thus it is concluded that LG compartments are not differentially activated during automatic postural responses to perturbations of the support surface.


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