Muscle Activation During Pilates Exercises in Participants With Chronic Nonspecific Low Back Pain: A Cross-Sectional Case-Control Study

• Published in: Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation Vol. 98; no. 1; pp. 88 - 95
• Main Authors: Oliveira, Naiane Teixeira Bastos de, MS, Freitas, Sandra Maria Sbeghen Ferreira, PhD, Fuhro, Fernanda Ferreira, MS, Luz, Maurício Antônio da, MS, Amorim, Cesar Ferreira, PhD, Cabral, Cristina Maria Nunes, PhD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.01.2017
• Subjects: Abdominal Oblique Muscles - physiopathology; Adult; Buttocks; Case-Control Studies; Chronic Pain - physiopathology; Cross-Sectional Studies; Electromyography; Exercise movement techniques; Exercise Movement Techniques - adverse effects; Female; Humans; Low back pain; Low Back Pain - physiopathology; Middle Aged; Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; Rehabilitation; Young Adult; Electromyography; Rehabilitation; LBP; Exercise movement techniques; Low back pain
• ISSN: 0003-9993; 1532-821X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2016.09.111

Abstract Objective To determine the amplitude of the electromyographic activity of trunk muscles during Pilates exercises in women with and without chronic low back pain (LBP). Design Case-control study. Setting University physical therapy clinic. Participants Women (N=60) divided into an LBP group and a control group. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Amplitude of the electromyographic activity (root mean square values) of the gluteus maximus and external oblique muscles collected during 3 Pilates exercises: Shoulder Bridge performed on the mat, and Hip Roll and Breathing performed in equipment. Pain intensity was assessed in the LBP group. Results The amplitude of the electromyographic activity was similar between groups ( P ≥.05). For both groups, the amplitude of the gluteus maximus was higher in the Shoulder Bridge exercise compared with the Hip Roll with 2 springs (control group: mean difference [MD]=.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], .05–.41; LBP group: MD=.29; 95% CI, .16–.31) and the Breathing exercise (control group: MD=−.40; 95% CI, −.55 to −.26; LBP group: MD=−.36; 95% CI, −.52 to −.20). The amplitude of the external oblique muscle was higher in the Shoulder Bridge compared with the Hip Roll with 2 springs (control group: MD=.13; 95% CI, .05–.21; LBP group: MD=.18; 95% CI, .03–.33). Pain intensity increased after exercises, but this increase was lower for the mat exercises. Conclusions Similar muscle activation between groups was found. The findings suggest that mat exercises caused less pain and a greater difference in the amplitude of muscle activation compared with the equipment-based exercises.