ABSTRACT. Queiroz BC, Cagliari MF, Amorim CF, Sacco
IC. Muscle activation during four Pilates core stability exercises in quadruped position. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2010;91:
86-92.
Objective: To compare the activity of stabilizing trunk and
hip muscles in 4 variations of Pilates stabilizing exercises in the
quadruped position.
Design: Repeated-measures descriptive study.
Setting: A biomechanics laboratory at a university school of
medicine.
Participants: Healthy subjects (N19; mean age SD,
315y; mean weight SD, 6011kg; mean height SD,
1669cm) experienced in Pilates routines.
Interventions: Surface electromyographic signals of iliocostalis, multifidus, gluteus maximus, rectus abdominis, and
external and internal oblique muscles were recorded in 4 knee
stretch exercises: retroverted pelvis with flexed trunk; anteverted pelvis with extended trunk; neutral pelvis with inclined
trunk; and neutral pelvis with trunk parallel to the ground.
Main Outcome Measures: Root mean square values of
each muscle and exercise in both phases of hip extension
and flexion, normalized by the maximal voluntary isometric
contraction.
Results: The retroverted pelvis with flexed trunk position
led to significantly increased external oblique and gluteus
maximus muscle activation. The anteverted pelvis with trunk
extension significantly increased multifidus muscle activity.
The neutral pelvis position led to significantly lower activity of
all muscles. Rectus abdominis muscle activation to maintain
body posture was similar in all exercises and was not influenced by position of the pelvis and trunk.
Conclusions: Variations in the pelvic and trunk positions in
the knee stretch exercises change the activation pattern of the
multifidus, gluteus maximus, rectus abdominis, and oblique
muscles. The lower level of activation of the rectus abdominis
muscle suggests that pelvic stability is maintained in the 4
exercise positions.
Key Words: Electromyography; Exercise therapy; Rehabilitation
