Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate by electromyography whether there was an appropriate load on the lumbar erector spinae during extremity elevation exercise from the all-fours position. Young and elderly women participated in this study. The spinae muscle strength of young women were stronger than those of elderly women. Also, maximum muscle activity of young women was 26.6 ± 13.2%, and for the elderly was 80.7 ± 33.2%, during extremity elevation exercise. The result indicates that this exercise was an effective load for elderly women but was not enough for young women. An EMG assessment of lumbar erector spinae may be needed for an assessment of the appropriate load for the muscle strengthening.
