title: Core Muscle Activity during TRX Suspension Exercises with and without Kinesiology Taping in Adults with Chronic Low Back Pain: Implications for Rehabilitation.
abstract: This study aimed to examine the effects of kinesiology taping (KT) and different TRX suspension workouts on the amplitude of electromyographic (EMG) activity in the core muscles among people with chronic low back pain (LBP). Each participant (total n = 21) was exposed to two KT conditions: no taping and taping, while performing four TRX suspension exercises: (1) hamstring curl, (2) hip abduction in plank, (3) chest press, and (4) 45-degree row. Right transversus abdominis/internal oblique (TrAIO), rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), and superficial lumbar multifidus (LMF) activity was recorded with surface EMG and expressed as a percentage of the EMG amplitude recorded during a maximal voluntary isometric contraction of the respective muscles. Hip abduction in plank increased TrAIO, RA, and LMF EMG amplitude compared with other TRX positions (P < 0.008). Only the hamstring curl was effective in inducing a high EMG amplitude of LMF (P < 0.001). No significant difference in EMG magnitude was found between the taping and no taping conditions overall (P > 0.05). Hip abduction in plank most effectively activated abdominal muscles, whereas the hamstring curl most effectively activated the paraspinal muscles. Applying KT conferred no immediate benefits in improving the core muscle activation during TRX training in adults with chronic LBP.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Performance, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Shirley S M
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Performance, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Y T
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Performance, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Duncan J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Macfarlane
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Shamay S M
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea ; Department of Physical Therapy, Angelo State University, San Angelo, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Young-Hyeon
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.affiliation: Hong Kong Physiotherapists' Union, Central, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Eleanor W Y
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo