2021 Volume 12 Issue 6 Pages 870-874
Introduction: We have introduced unilateral thigh-raising exercises combined with bilateral arm maximum elevation in a sitting position as specific isometric exercises of core trunk muscles at an early stage after lumbar surgery. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of bilateral arm elevation on core muscle activity during our postoperative exercises using surface electromyography.
Methods: Ten healthy young volunteers were included. The activities of 3 trunk muscles, the external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO), and lumbar spine erector muscles (LE), were measured bilaterally. The participants performed 4 types of exercises in a sitting position: unilateral thigh-raising on the side ipsilateral to the measurement (Ex1); additional bilateral arm maximum elevation, coupled with Ex1 (Ex2); thigh raising on the contralateral side (Ex3); and bilateral arm elevation, coupled with Ex3 (Ex4). Integrated rectified waveform (iEMG) values were measured per second in each muscle bilaterally during stable muscle contraction in each exercise. The changes in the iEMG values during the exercises from those measured while the participant was sitting were determined.
Results: Increases of EO and IO muscle activities were significantly greater in Ex2 than in Ex1. In contrast, there were no changes in LE muscle activities during all 4 types of exercises.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that additional bilateral arm maximum elevation during unilateral thigh-raising exercise could be a useful method to enhance EO and IO muscle activity without changing LE muscle activity. Thus, our postoperative exercise program was considered an appropriate method by which to increase trunk stability through promoting core muscle activity without a load on the back extensors at an early stage after lumbar posterior decompression surgery.
