Comparison of electromyographic activities of lumbar iliocostalis and lumbar multifidus muscles during stabilization exercises in prone, quadruped, and sitting positions.
Marie Kelly, Dee Jacobs, Mary E Wooten and 1 others
PMID 27821968WHAT IT FOUND
In healthy adults, prone trunk extension produced the most lumbar muscle activity.
Quadruped opposite arm and leg lifts produced lower, asymmetric multifidus activity than prone. Seated arm exercises produced the least multifidus activity.
Key findings
01Exercise position significantly affected EMG activity of both lumbar iliocostalis and lumbar multifidus muscles.
02Prone trunk extension and prone opposite arm/leg lifts produced greater iliocostalis and multifidus activity than quadruped and sitting exercises.
03Quadruped opposite arm/leg lift produced greater multifidus activity than sitting exercises.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study measured muscle electrical activity, not pain, function, or clinical outcomes. Only healthy adults without back pain in the past three months were tested, so patients with back pain may respond differently. The sample was small, and the authors note results may vary with back pain, older age, different positions, or different resistance. Surface electrodes could not separate superficial and deep multifidus fibers. The maximum voluntary contraction method may have affected the EMG percentages.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that these exercises treat back pain. The study measured muscle activity in healthy adults without current back pain, and the paper reports no pain or function outcomes.