Effect of Craniocervical Flexion on Muscle Activities of Abdominal and Cervical Muscles During Abdominal Curl-Up Exercise

Abstract

1)Abdominal curl-up exercise may excessively increased superficial neck flexor such as sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle. Also, the muscle activity of the abdominal muscles haven't investigated during abdominal curl-up with craniocervical flexion (CCF). Therefore, the purpose of our study was to determine the effect of CCF on the muscle activity of the abdominal and SCM muscles during abdominal curl-up. Twelve healthy subjects (six men and six women) with no history of abdominal or lower back pain within 6 weeks were recruited. Surface electromyographic signals were collected on SCM, rectus abdominis (RA), internal oblique (IO), and external oblique (EO) muscles bilaterally during performing the traditional abdominal curl-up and the abdominal curl-up with CCF. Paired t-tests were used to compare the differences in the muscle activity of the bilateral SCM, RA, EO, and IO muscles between the traditional abdominal curl-up and the abdominal curl-up with CCF (p<.05). There was significantly lower electromyogram (EMG) activity of the both SCMs during the abdominal curl-up with CCF (Right SCM, 39.50±15.29%MVIC; Left SCM, 38.24±17.31%MVIC) than with the traditional abdominal curl-up (Right SCM, 54.85±20.05%MVIC; Left SCM, 53.18±26.72%MVIC) (p<.05). The activity of abdominal muscles were not significantly different between the traditional abdominal curl-up and the abdominal curl-up with CCF. The abdominal curl-up with CCF requires significantly less muscle activity of SCM. Consequently, the abdominal curl-up with CCF is recommended to prevent excessive activation of superficial cervical flexors during abdominal curl-up exercise.

Effect of neck flexion restriction on sternocleidomastoid and abdominal muscle activity during curl-up exercises

“…Previous studies focused on decreased SCM and increased abdominal activity during the curl-up exercise 13 , 14 ) . Yoon et al 14 ) reported that the muscle activity of SCM during curl-up with craniocervical flexion (CCF) was significantly lower than during the traditional curl-up exercise, but the abdominal muscle activity did not differ between the two tasks. However, we found that decreased SCM activity could influence increased abdominal muscle activity during curl-up with neck flexion restriction.…”

Abdominal Bracing Manevrasinin Farkli Di̇z Fleksi̇yon Açilarinda, Kuadri̇seps Zi̇rve Torku, Zi̇rve Torka Ulaşma Süresi̇ Ve Kas Akti̇vasyonu Üzeri̇ne Etki̇si̇

“…The participant was laid in the supine position with hips and knees flexed 90°, feet were supported, and the trunk was maximally flexed and rotated to the right, for the IO/TA MVIC evaluation. The examiner applied manual resistance at the shoulders by pushing the trunk extension and left rotation directions (19,20). MVIC testing was repeated three times.…”