title: The electromyographic activity of the multifidus muscles during the execution of two pilates exercises--swan dive and breast stroke--for healthy people.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to compare the multifidus electromyographic activity in healthy women during the performance of the same Pilates exercise under 2 conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen healthy, active, female practitioners of Pilates (mean age, 24.3; SD, 3.1 years) were assessed through surface electromyography during 2 Pilates exercises (swan dive and breast stroke). Muscle activity during the experimental tasks was recorded with 1 pair of electrodes placed bilaterally on the multifidi. Data were normalized to maximal activity recorded during dynamic activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean of the maximal isometric voluntary contraction was 662.4 N (SD, 195). In the phase comparison, the multifidus was the most recruited on the concentric phase during both exercises, ball (P=.001) and reformer (P=.001). In the comparison between conditions, the reformer presented more activation on swan dive (P=.04) and breast stroke (P=.001). The percentages of muscle activation varied between 50% and 60%, and the greatest activation was made on the reformer condition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings of this study show that Pilates exercises by healthy women, under different conditions, can cause changes to the multifidus muscle activation. The condition and the phase in which the muscle was more activated were the reformer and concentric phase, respectively, for both exercises. However, the results for the percentages of activation suggest that the intensity of recruitment may not be sufficient to strengthen muscle in healthy, trained subjects.
authors.affiliation: Faculdades Integradas Aparicio Carvalho, Porto Velho-RO, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maryela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Oliveira Menacho
authors.forename: Mariana Felipe
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Obara
authors.forename: Fernanda Queiroz Ribeiro Cerci
authors.initials: FQ
authors.lastname: Mostagi
authors.forename: Josilainne M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.forename: Tarcisio Brandão
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Taufik
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Abrão
authors.forename: Jefferson Rosa
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Cardoso
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods*; D026241:Exercise Movement Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D053580:Muscle Strength; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Electromyography; Exercise Therapy; Rehabilitation