Comparing the Electromyography Activity of Core Muscles During Side Plank Exercise on Stable and Unstable Surfaces

Objective Numerous abdominal exercises with Swiss ball are used to improve core stability with strengthening and rehabilitation goals. It is claimed that the stability exercises have a greater impact on core muscle activation, but the validity of this claim is still in doubt. Moreover, there is no c...

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Main Authors: Farideh Babakhani, Mohamadreza Hatefi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Islamic Azad University, Hamedan Branch 2019-09-01
Series:Biyumikānīk-i varzishī
Subjects:
Online Access:http://biomechanics.iauh.ac.ir/article-1-198-en.html
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author Farideh Babakhani
Mohamadreza Hatefi
author_facet Farideh Babakhani
Mohamadreza Hatefi
author_sort Farideh Babakhani
collection DOAJ
description Objective Numerous abdominal exercises with Swiss ball are used to improve core stability with strengthening and rehabilitation goals. It is claimed that the stability exercises have a greater impact on core muscle activation, but the validity of this claim is still in doubt. Moreover, there is no comprehensive study on the comparison of the core muscles activity in different core stability exercises. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the Electromyography (EMG) activity of core muscles while performing side plank on stable and unstable (Swiss ball) surfaces. Methods Fifteen male students of Allameh Tabataba’i University were selected for the study based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The EMG activity of gluteus medius, rectus abdominis, external oblique, and internal oblique muscles in subjects was recorded while performing side plank exercise on a fixed surface and a Swiss ball (2 sets of 5 seconds with a 30-second rest interval). Results There was a significant difference in the EMG activity of gluteus medius, external oblique and rectus abdominis muscles between two conditions of with and without Swiss ball (P<0.05), but no significant difference was observed in the EMG activity of internal oblique muscle (P>0.05). Conclusion Side plank exercise on the unstable surfaces (Swiss balls) can cause changes in the EMG activity of gluteus medius, rectus abdominis and external oblique muscles compared to when the exercise is performed on stable surfaces, and highly involved the pelvic lumbar muscles effective in maintaining core stability. Therefore, the use of side plank exercise on unstable conditions in a progressive program with gradually increased intensity is recommended which can be effective in strengthening and applying effective muscle contractions useful for core stability.
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spelling doaj-art-9c6596b313da4187bac8b086d74f0aee2025-08-20T03:37:02ZengIslamic Azad University, Hamedan BranchBiyumikānīk-i varzishī2476-49062476-59372019-09-0152102111Comparing the Electromyography Activity of Core Muscles During Side Plank Exercise on Stable and Unstable SurfacesFarideh Babakhani0Mohamadreza Hatefi1 Department of Corrective Exercises and Sport Injury, Faculty of Physical Education, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran. Department of Corrective Exercises and Sport Injury, Faculty of Physical Education, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran. Objective Numerous abdominal exercises with Swiss ball are used to improve core stability with strengthening and rehabilitation goals. It is claimed that the stability exercises have a greater impact on core muscle activation, but the validity of this claim is still in doubt. Moreover, there is no comprehensive study on the comparison of the core muscles activity in different core stability exercises. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the Electromyography (EMG) activity of core muscles while performing side plank on stable and unstable (Swiss ball) surfaces. Methods Fifteen male students of Allameh Tabataba’i University were selected for the study based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. The EMG activity of gluteus medius, rectus abdominis, external oblique, and internal oblique muscles in subjects was recorded while performing side plank exercise on a fixed surface and a Swiss ball (2 sets of 5 seconds with a 30-second rest interval). Results There was a significant difference in the EMG activity of gluteus medius, external oblique and rectus abdominis muscles between two conditions of with and without Swiss ball (P<0.05), but no significant difference was observed in the EMG activity of internal oblique muscle (P>0.05). Conclusion Side plank exercise on the unstable surfaces (Swiss balls) can cause changes in the EMG activity of gluteus medius, rectus abdominis and external oblique muscles compared to when the exercise is performed on stable surfaces, and highly involved the pelvic lumbar muscles effective in maintaining core stability. Therefore, the use of side plank exercise on unstable conditions in a progressive program with gradually increased intensity is recommended which can be effective in strengthening and applying effective muscle contractions useful for core stability.http://biomechanics.iauh.ac.ir/article-1-198-en.htmlcore stabilityplanksurface electromyography
spellingShingle Farideh Babakhani
Mohamadreza Hatefi
Comparing the Electromyography Activity of Core Muscles During Side Plank Exercise on Stable and Unstable Surfaces
Biyumikānīk-i varzishī
core stability
plank
surface electromyography
title Comparing the Electromyography Activity of Core Muscles During Side Plank Exercise on Stable and Unstable Surfaces
title_full Comparing the Electromyography Activity of Core Muscles During Side Plank Exercise on Stable and Unstable Surfaces
title_fullStr Comparing the Electromyography Activity of Core Muscles During Side Plank Exercise on Stable and Unstable Surfaces
title_full_unstemmed Comparing the Electromyography Activity of Core Muscles During Side Plank Exercise on Stable and Unstable Surfaces
title_short Comparing the Electromyography Activity of Core Muscles During Side Plank Exercise on Stable and Unstable Surfaces
title_sort comparing the electromyography activity of core muscles during side plank exercise on stable and unstable surfaces
topic core stability
plank
surface electromyography
url http://biomechanics.iauh.ac.ir/article-1-198-en.html
work_keys_str_mv AT faridehbabakhani comparingtheelectromyographyactivityofcoremusclesduringsideplankexerciseonstableandunstablesurfaces
AT mohamadrezahatefi comparingtheelectromyographyactivityofcoremusclesduringsideplankexerciseonstableandunstablesurfaces