Comparison of trunk muscle activity during lumbar stabilization exercises on stable and unstable surfaces

Lumbar stabilization exercises (LSE) provide dynamic trunk stability, promote muscle strength and endurance, and improve low back pain rehabilitation and performance.

To clarify the differences in trunk muscle activity during LSEs on stable and different unstable surfaces.

Fifteen healthy males performed three exercises (elbow-toe, hand-knee, and side bridge) on stable (floor) and unstable surfaces. Muscle activity of the bilateral rectus abdominis, internal oblique, external oblique, and erector spinae were recorded. Data were compared using the Friedman test. Pairwise comparisons were performed using Wilcoxon's signed rank test if significant differences were observed.

In the elbow-toe exercise, muscle activity of the rectus abdominis and right internal oblique increased in the following order: floor, low-difficulty, and high-difficulty unstable surface. In the hand-knee exercise, muscle activity of the internal oblique on the lower-extremity elevated side, external oblique, and erector spinae on the upper-extremity elevated side were greater on unstable surface exercise performance. In the side bridge exercise, rectus abdominis muscle activity was highest on a high-difficulty unstable surface.

Trunk muscle activity increased during exercise on unstable surfaces. Since the effects of unstable surfaces vary depending on muscle and exercise types, exercise difficulty and surface stability must be considered accordingly.