Spinal unloading after abdominal exercises
Cíntia L Nahhas Rodacki1, André Luiz Felix Rodacki, Carlos Ugrinowitsch
1Positivo University Centre, Rua Pedro Viriato Parigot de Souza, 5300, Campina do Siqueira, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
Clinical Biomechanics (Bristol, Avon)
|October 4, 2007
Summary
Abdominal exercises may help recover stature lost due to spine loading. These exercises showed greater spinal unloading compared to a resting position, potentially mitigating negative effects of compressive forces.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Intervertebral discs lose fluid under compression, decreasing stature and potentially causing back pain.
- Spine loading from activities like resistance training can negatively impact disc height and overall stature.
- Abdominal exercises are known to increase intra-abdominal pressure, which may unload the spine.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if abdominal exercises provide acute spinal unloading.
- To compare the spinal unloading effects of abdominal exercises against a known unloading position.
Main Methods:
- Nine subjects participated in three experimental sessions.
- Sessions involved a loading protocol (military press) and three unloading protocols (regular abdominal exercises, inclined abdominal exercises, resting posture).
- Stature recovery was measured to assess spinal unloading.
Main Results:
- Abdominal exercises demonstrated greater stature recovery (87.8% regular, 70.1% inclined) than the resting position (33.6%).
- No statistically significant differences in stature recovery were found between the different abdominal exercise methods (P=0.07).
Conclusions:
- Abdominal exercises could be beneficial when interspersed with resistance training to counteract compressive forces.
- Further research is needed to validate the mechanisms behind the proposed spinal unloading effects of abdominal exercises.
