Abstract
[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate whether stabilization of the lumbar spinal column by training the lumbar multifidus helped to improve sitting balance. [Subjects] The subjects were 21 healthy individuals. [Methods] The subjects performed muscle function training 3 times a week for 4 weeks. The displacement width of pressure, which shows the control of movement of the lumbar in bending forward and backward, the center of pressure (COP) in sitting at rest and maximum lateral reaching, and %maximal voluntary contraction (%MVC) of trunk muscle while maintaining the sitting position were measured before and after the training. [Results] The displacement width of pressure after the training was significantly decreased as compared with before. With COP and %MVC, no significant differences were found between before and after the training. [Conclusion] The results indicate that bolstering the immobility of the centrum by improving lumbar multifidus function does not always influence sitting balance.
