Abdominal Muscle Activation During Common Modifications of the Trunk Curl-up Exercise
-
-
[1] Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences
Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences
Suecia
-
[2] University Health Care Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Orebro University, Orebro, Sweden
-
- Localización: Journal of strength and conditioning research: the research journal of the NSCA, ISSN 1064-8011, Vol. 35, Nº. 2, 2021, págs. 428-435
- Idioma: inglés
- Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
-
Resumen
The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of common modifications of trunk curl-up exercise on the involvement of the abdominal muscles, particularly the deepest muscle layer, transversus abdominis (TrA). Ten healthy females performed 5 different variations of the trunk curl-up at a standardized speed, varying the exercise by assuming 3 different arm positions and applying left and right twist. Indwelling fine-wire electromyography (EMG) electrodes were used to record from TrA, obliquus internus (OI), obliquus externus (OE), and rectus abdominis (RA) unilaterally on the right side. Increasing the load by changing the arm position during a straight trunk curl-up increased the EMG of all abdominal muscles. Obliquus internus and TrA showed higher activation during right twist compared with left twist, whereas OE displayed the opposite pattern. Rectus abdominis did not show any change in activation level between twisting directions. The apparent load dependency on the activation level of all muscles, and the twisting direction dependency of all muscles except RA, are in keeping with the fiber orientation of the muscles. Notably, also TrA, with a less obvious mechanical role with regards to fiber orientation, increased activation with load during the straight trunk curl-up. However, the highest activation level of TrA during the trunk curl-up was only 40% of a maximum contraction; thus, it might not be the most suitable strength training exercise for this muscle.
