Muscle activation during four Pilates core stability exercises in quadruped position.
Queiroz BC, Cagliari MF, Amorim CF, Sacco IC. Muscle activation during four Pilates core stability exercises in quadruped position.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the activity of stabilizing trunk and hip muscles in 4 variations of Pilates stabilizing exercises in the quadruped position.


METHODS
Repeated-measures descriptive study.


METHODS
A biomechanics laboratory at a university school of medicine.


METHODS
Healthy subjects (N=19; mean age +/- SD, 31+/-5y; mean weight +/- SD, 60+/-11kg; mean height +/- SD, 166+/-9cm) experienced in Pilates routines.


METHODS
Surface electromyographic signals of iliocostalis, multifidus, gluteus maximus, rectus abdominis, and external and internal oblique muscles were recorded in 4 knee stretch exercises: retroverted pelvis with flexed trunk; anteverted pelvis with extended trunk; neutral pelvis with inclined trunk; and neutral pelvis with trunk parallel to the ground.


METHODS
Root mean square values of each muscle and exercise in both phases of hip extension and flexion, normalized by the maximal voluntary isometric contraction.


RESULTS
The retroverted pelvis with flexed trunk position led to significantly increased external oblique and gluteus maximus muscle activation. The anteverted pelvis with trunk extension significantly increased multifidus muscle activity. The neutral pelvis position led to significantly lower activity of all muscles. Rectus abdominis muscle activation to maintain body posture was similar in all exercises and was not influenced by position of the pelvis and trunk.


CONCLUSIONS
Variations in the pelvic and trunk positions in the knee stretch exercises change the activation pattern of the multifidus, gluteus maximus, rectus abdominis, and oblique muscles. The lower level of activation of the rectus abdominis muscle suggests that pelvic stability is maintained in the 4 exercise positions.
Queiroz
Bergson C
BC
Department of Physical Therapy, Speech and Occupational Therapy, School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. bergcabral@usp.br
Cagliari
Mariana F
MF
Amorim
César F
CF
Sacco
Isabel C
IC
D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004576:Electromyography; D026241:Exercise Movement Techniques; D005260:Female; D006615:Hip / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*