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Updated: Aug 16, 2026

Evaluation of Respiratory Muscle Activation Using Respiratory Motor Control Assessment RMCA in Individuals with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury
Published on: July 19, 2013
[Core muscle chains activation during core exercises determined by EMG-a systematic review]
Slavko Rogan1, Jan Riesen2, Jan Taeymans3
1Berner Fachhochschule, Gesundheit, Disziplin Physiotherapie, Bern und Akademie für Physiotherapie und integrative Trainingslehre, Vrije Universiteit Brüssel.
Abstract:
Good core muscles strength is essential for daily life and sports activities. However, the mechanism how core muscles may be effectively triggered by exercises is not yet precisely described in the literature. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the rate of activation as measured by electromyography of the ventral, lateral and dorsal core muscle chains during core (trunk) muscle exercises. A total of 16 studies were included. Exercises with a vertical starting position, such as the deadlift or squat activated significantly more core muscles than exercises in the horizontal initial position.
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