Abdominal exercise intensities on firm and compliant surfaces.
Muscle activities at 15 sites were compared within a group of healthy young adults to evaluate their relative intensities during six abdominal exercises: partial and full sit-ups on a firm surface (floor) and on an exercise ball that was either stabilized or unstabilized. The most strenuous abdominal exercise overall (i.e., whole body workout) was the full sit-up on a firm surface which included significant muscle activities in the lower extremities. Exercise intensity was also high in the full and partial sit-ups when performed on a ball. The partial sit-up on the floor was the least strenuous of the six exercises. The greatest effect on the abdominal muscles was observed in the partial sit-up on a ball (stabilized and unstabilized). Results suggest that, although abdominal exercises on a ball may be gentler on the hip and lower back, overall exercise intensity is not necessarily lower than that on the floor. Moreover, partial sit-ups, both on the floor and on a ball, also required greater neck muscle activities than full sit-ups. In deciding what type of sit-up to do, exercise surface and different muscular activities between the partial and full sit-ups should be considered.
Chong
Raymond
R
Department of Physical Therapy, Medical College of Georgia EC-1342, Augusta, GA 30912, USA. rchong@mcg.edu
Barber
Shelly
S
Martin
Laurie Howell
LH
Steele
Kimberly
K
White
Rebecca
R
D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D001415:Back / Q000502:physiology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005430:Floors and Floorcoverings; D006615:Hip / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D017568:Rectus Abdominis / Q000502:physiology