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THE EFFECT OF LEG DOMINANCE ON TRUNK MUSCLE ACTIVITY DURING BRIDGING EXERCISES

The Society for Back Pain Research (SBPR) Annual General Meeting: ‘Spotlight on sciatica’



Abstract

Purpose

To determine the effect of leg dominance on trunk muscle activity during bridging exercises on the floor and a gym ball.

Background

Perturbation training including bridging exercises and unstable surfaces have been shown to increase trunk activity. Trunk muscle activity increases on the contralateral side to the stabilising leg during bridging, however, no studies exist on the effect of leg dominance on trunk muscle activity during bridging exercises. This study will investigate whether trunk muscle activity differs when stabilising on the dominant versus non-dominant leg.

Method

A same subject observational design collected surface electromyography (SEMG) muscle activity for right (R) and left (L) bilateral IO and EO in 2 bridging exercises. (1) feet on the floor, (2) legs on a gym ball. 13 subjects, all right leg dominant (age, 21.53±1.50 years, height 169.38±8.33 centimetres, weight 67.91±10.60 kilograms gave informed consent. All SEMG data was normalized against maximum voluntary contractions. Data was analysed using paired t-test or Wilcoxon rank analysis.

Results

In the ball exercise lifting the dominant leg significantly increased RIO (p=0.004), in the floor exercise lifting the dominant leg significantly increased LEO (p=0.03) and RIO (p=0.05). In the ball exercise lifting the non-dominant leg significantly increased LIO p=(0.007) and LEO (p=0016). All other recordings were non-significant.

Conclusion

There was no consistency in increase in trunk muscle activity when comparing lifting the dominant and non dominant leg in the two exercise conditions. This may reflect the variability in individual trunk muscle response to perturbations.


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No conflict of interests

No funding obtained

This abstract has not been previously published in whole or substantial part, nor has it been presented previously at a national meeting.