[Core muscle chains activation during core exercises determined by EMG-a systematic review]

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Exercise Physiology
• Musculoskeletal Health

Background:

• Core muscle strength is crucial for functional movements and athletic performance.
• Precise understanding of how different exercises activate core musculature remains limited.
• Electromyography (EMG) is a key tool for measuring muscle activation during exercise.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and evaluate the electromyography (EMG) activation rates of ventral, lateral, and dorsal core muscle chains.
• To compare muscle activation across various core (trunk) exercises.
• To identify exercise types that most effectively engage the core musculature.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of 16 studies.
• Analysis of electromyography (EMG) data measuring core muscle activation.
• Categorization of exercises based on starting position (vertical vs. horizontal).

Main Results:

• Significant differences in core muscle activation were observed between exercise types.
• Exercises initiated from a vertical position demonstrated higher core muscle activation.
• Specific examples include deadlifts and squats activating more core muscles compared to horizontal exercises.

Conclusions:

• Vertical starting position exercises, such as deadlifts and squats, are more effective at activating core muscles.
• This finding provides valuable insights for designing effective core strengthening programs.
• Further research may explore specific EMG patterns for a wider range of exercises.