Surface Electromyographic Activity of the Rectus Abdominis and External Oblique during Isometric and Dynamic Exercises
Exercises for the abdominal muscles are widely used in athletic activities for strength training and prevention of low back disorders. The timing and volume of muscle activation for various movements have not yet been clarified. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the surface electromyograp...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/7/3/67 |
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| author | Athanasios Mandroukas Yiannis Michailidis Angelos E. Kyranoudis Kosmas Christoulas Thomas Metaxas |
| author_facet | Athanasios Mandroukas Yiannis Michailidis Angelos E. Kyranoudis Kosmas Christoulas Thomas Metaxas |
| author_sort | Athanasios Mandroukas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Exercises for the abdominal muscles are widely used in athletic activities for strength training and prevention of low back disorders. The timing and volume of muscle activation for various movements have not yet been clarified. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the surface electromyographic activity from the upper (RAU) and lower part (RAL) of the rectus abdominis and the external oblique (EO) muscles during eleven abdominal muscle strength training exercises. Thirty-five healthy male university students with a subspecialty in soccer participated in the study. They performed exercises involving isometric, concentric, and eccentric muscle contractions. The electromyographic recordings were amplified by a factor of 1000, rectified, and integrated. Mean integrated values were calculated by dividing the elapsed time for the five repetitions, to provide the mean integrated electromyographic values for each exercise. Leg movements from a long lying position showed higher activity of the rectus abdominis, compared to the EO (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The dynamic sit-ups showed an obvious dominant activity of the EO, compared to the rectus abdominis (<i>p</i> < 0.001). During eccentric exercise, higher activity was found in the RAU, compared to the RAL (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The results could serve as a basis for improving the design and specification of training exercises. Pre-exercises should be performed before testing abdominal muscle strength. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:34:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-de7eaedb2c2d419faa43d1dabcf859de |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2411-5142 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:34:32Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-de7eaedb2c2d419faa43d1dabcf859de2023-11-23T17:04:17ZengMDPI AGJournal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology2411-51422022-09-01736710.3390/jfmk7030067Surface Electromyographic Activity of the Rectus Abdominis and External Oblique during Isometric and Dynamic ExercisesAthanasios Mandroukas0Yiannis Michailidis1Angelos E. Kyranoudis2Kosmas Christoulas3Thomas Metaxas4Laboratory of Evaluation of Human Biological Performance, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 57001 Thessaloniki, GreeceLaboratory of Evaluation of Human Biological Performance, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 57001 Thessaloniki, GreeceDepartment of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Democritus University of Thrace, University Campus, 69100 Komotini, GreeceLaboratory of Evaluation of Human Biological Performance, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 57001 Thessaloniki, GreeceLaboratory of Evaluation of Human Biological Performance, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 57001 Thessaloniki, GreeceExercises for the abdominal muscles are widely used in athletic activities for strength training and prevention of low back disorders. The timing and volume of muscle activation for various movements have not yet been clarified. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the surface electromyographic activity from the upper (RAU) and lower part (RAL) of the rectus abdominis and the external oblique (EO) muscles during eleven abdominal muscle strength training exercises. Thirty-five healthy male university students with a subspecialty in soccer participated in the study. They performed exercises involving isometric, concentric, and eccentric muscle contractions. The electromyographic recordings were amplified by a factor of 1000, rectified, and integrated. Mean integrated values were calculated by dividing the elapsed time for the five repetitions, to provide the mean integrated electromyographic values for each exercise. Leg movements from a long lying position showed higher activity of the rectus abdominis, compared to the EO (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The dynamic sit-ups showed an obvious dominant activity of the EO, compared to the rectus abdominis (<i>p</i> < 0.001). During eccentric exercise, higher activity was found in the RAU, compared to the RAL (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The results could serve as a basis for improving the design and specification of training exercises. Pre-exercises should be performed before testing abdominal muscle strength.https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/7/3/67abdominal muscleselectromyographyisometricconcentriceccentricstrength exercises |
| spellingShingle | Athanasios Mandroukas Yiannis Michailidis Angelos E. Kyranoudis Kosmas Christoulas Thomas Metaxas Surface Electromyographic Activity of the Rectus Abdominis and External Oblique during Isometric and Dynamic Exercises Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology abdominal muscles electromyography isometric concentric eccentric strength exercises |
| title | Surface Electromyographic Activity of the Rectus Abdominis and External Oblique during Isometric and Dynamic Exercises |
| title_full | Surface Electromyographic Activity of the Rectus Abdominis and External Oblique during Isometric and Dynamic Exercises |
| title_fullStr | Surface Electromyographic Activity of the Rectus Abdominis and External Oblique during Isometric and Dynamic Exercises |
| title_full_unstemmed | Surface Electromyographic Activity of the Rectus Abdominis and External Oblique during Isometric and Dynamic Exercises |
| title_short | Surface Electromyographic Activity of the Rectus Abdominis and External Oblique during Isometric and Dynamic Exercises |
| title_sort | surface electromyographic activity of the rectus abdominis and external oblique during isometric and dynamic exercises |
| topic | abdominal muscles electromyography isometric concentric eccentric strength exercises |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/7/3/67 |
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