Changes in rectus abdominis and multifidus muscle activity during various leg-raising exercises in the supine position.
Won-Gyu Yoo
PMID 29545696WHAT IT FOUND
In 10 healthy men, knee-bent leg raises had the lowest rectus abdominis to multifidus activity ratio, and trunk-flexed leg raises had the highest rectus abdominis activity; no clinical outcomes were tested.
Key findings
01Raising the legs while flexing the trunk produced the highest rectus abdominis activity at 40.4%.
02Raising the legs while flexing the knees produced the lowest rectus abdominis/multifidus ratio at 4.6 ± 2.5.
03Multifidus activity did not differ significantly among the leg-raising exercises.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
Only 10 healthy men were tested, so the findings may not apply to women, older adults, or people with back pain. The study measured muscle activity only; it did not test pain, function, injury, or long-term spinal stability. Surface electrodes measured superficial muscle activity and could not assess deeper stabilising muscles. The exercises were performed in a laboratory setting, not in clinical care.
Declared interests
This research was supported by Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea funded by the Ministry of Education. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not treat these muscle-activity differences as proof that a leg-raising exercise stabilises the spine or helps back pain. The study measured 10 healthy men in a laboratory and did not assess clinical outcomes.