The Analysis of EMG According to Surface Type and Elastic Band Usage During the Pilates Superman Movement

Abstract

Objective : The purpose of this study was to analyze EMG according to surface type and elastic band usage during the pilates Superman movement. Method : The subjects were 10 female university students with a mean age of 27. The independent variables were surface type (yoga mat, air filled equipment, elastic mat) and elastic band usage. In order to measure muscle activity, the Noraxon(USA) was used. Eight muscles (upper trapezius, lower trapezius, thoracic spine, lumbar spine, gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, biceps femoris, semitendinosus) activation were analyzed. For the statistical analysis, MANOVA, independent t-test and Scheffe test for the post-hoc via SPSS 20.0 was used. Results : The left and right upper trapezius muscle activities were significantly reduced when using the elastic bands. In addition gluteus medius muscle activities significantly increased with the elastic band as well. Conclusion : According to the usage of the elastic band and the different types of surfaces, different muscle groups were recruited. Elastic bands were found to have more activation on the gluteus medius muscle meanwhile there was less activation on the upper trapezius during the pilates Superman movement.

The Effects of the Use of Pilates Equipment during Pilates Hundred, Swimming Exercise on the Muscle Activation of Abdominal Muscles, Lumbar Erector Spinae, Gluteus of Lumbar Disc Disease Patients

“…Pilates Swimming prep performed in this study is the representative exercise of the core stabilization exercise [52] and is the exercise developing the back muscles of the whole body including the lumbar part and hips, and especially, this motion was reported to increase the muscle activity of the Gmed [26]. The Gmed and Gmax are important muscles for the pelvic stability, and weakened gluteus is closely related to back pain [53].…”

“…The study of muscle activity through EMG by Lee & Jeong [25] also reported that the muscle activity of RA muscle and EO muscle increased during Pilates Hundred motion. In addition, there is Swimming motion as lumbar extension exercise to strengthen the lumbar part among Pilates motions, and Swimming motion was reported to strengthen lumbar muscle strength and Gluteus muscle (GM) [26], and Lee & Jeong [25] also said that the muscle activity of LES muscle and GM increased during Beat motion and Brest stroke prep which are similar to Swimming motion. As shown above, Pilates Hundred motion and Swimming motion have been reported to be effective in the increase in abdominal (AB) muscle, LES muscle, and GM, but most of these studies studied the motions of Pilates for ordinary people without pain.…”

“…Hundred is a typical abdominal exercise among Pilates motions, and it is reported that Hundred affects the thickness increase of muscle TrA and IO and EO muscles as well as increase in muscle activity of EO muscle, IO muscle [24][25][26]. The study of muscle activity through EMG by Lee & Jeong [25] also reported that the muscle activity of RA muscle and EO muscle increased during Pilates Hundred motion.…”