Water-filled training tubes increase core muscle activation and somatosensory control of balance during squat

Abstract

This study examined trunk muscle activation, balance and proprioception while squatting with a water-filled training tube (WT) and a traditional barbell (BB), with either closed (CE) or open eyes (OE). Eighteen male elite Gaelic footballers performed an isometric squat under the following conditions: BB-OE, BB-CE, WT-OE and WT-CE. The activity of rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO) and multifidus (MF) was measured using electromyography, along with sway of the centre of pressure (CoP) using a force platform. Only the EO and the MF muscles exhibited an increased activity with WT (p < 0.01). In the medio-lateral direction both the velocity and range of the CoP increased significantly with WT (p < 0.01). Interestingly, the range of the CoP for the WT-CE condition was significantly lower than WT-OE (p < 0.05, d = 0.44), whilst the velocity of the CoP was marginally reduced (d = 0.29). WT elicited a greater level core muscle activation and created a greater challenge to postural stability when compared to a BB. It appears that WT does not benefit from vision but emphasises the somatosensory control of balance. The use of WT may be beneficial in those sports requiring development of somatosensory/proprioceptive contribution to balance control.

Neuromuscular shoulder activity during exercises with different combinations of stable and unstable weight mass

“…balance boards, Swiss or BOSU ball) and top-down (e.g. water pipe) based on the location where instability is applied [25]. Among top-down devices, water-filled pipes have received growing attention, since the stochastic behavior of the water inside the pipe (unstable mass) can produce sudden demands on increased coordination, stabilization patterns and muscle activation [26].…”

“…Among top-down devices, water-filled pipes have received growing attention, since the stochastic behavior of the water inside the pipe (unstable mass) can produce sudden demands on increased coordination, stabilization patterns and muscle activation [26]. This type of device has been used to investigate kinematics [24,25] and muscular activity [25][26][27][28] of the upper and lower limb muscles during exercising.…”

Neuromuscular shoulder activity during exercises with different combinations of stable and unstable weight mass

“…Among top-down devices, water-filled pipes have received growing attention, since the stochastic behavior of the water inside the pipe (unstable mass) can produce sudden demands on increased coordination, stabilization patterns and muscle activation 26 . This type of device has been recruited to investigate kinematics 24,25 and muscular activity [25][26][27][28] of the upper and lower limb muscles during exercising.…”

Neuromuscular shoulder activity during exercises with different combinations of stable and unstable weight mass

“…balance boards, Swiss or BOSU ball) and top-down (e.g. water pipe) based on the location where instability is applied 22,23 . Among top-down devices, water-filled pipes have received growing attention, since the stochastic behavior of the water inside the pipe (unstable mass) can produce sudden demands on increased coordination, stabilization patterns and muscle activation 24 .…”

“…Among top-down devices, water-filled pipes have received growing attention, since the stochastic behavior of the water inside the pipe (unstable mass) can produce sudden demands on increased coordination, stabilization patterns and muscle activation 24 . This type of device has been recruited to investigate kinematics 22,23 and muscular activity 22,24,25,26 of the upper and lower limb muscles during exercising.…”