Percepção de esforço, controle postural e padrão de recrutamento muscular em cinco variações do exercício quadrúpede

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Due to the high prevalence of low back pain in the population, quadruped exercises are often included in exercise programs, both in prevention and treatment. We can see several variations on the classical four-legged exercise (Bird dog) and given its relevance, there is a need for a more objective characterization as to its different forms of execution, making it more efficient and safer. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the muscular activity of trunk and abdomen muscles, palmar stabilometry and the perceived exertion index (BORG) during quadruped stabilization exercises, comparing to the traditional exercise - Bird dog - with 4 other variations. widely used in rehabilitation and physical education. METHOD: Thirty healthy volunteers performed five proposed quadruped exercises (classical “bird dog quadruped”; upper limbs symmetrical elevation with abdominal support on the swiss ball; classic with abdominal support on the swiss ball and quadruped with shoulder flexion and quadruped with elevation). upper limb extension and lower homolateral elevation). Surface electromyography was recorded bilaterally in the transverse abdomen (TA), multifidus (MD), Longissimus spinalis (LD) and iliocostals (CI) muscles. Palmar stabilometry was obtained by recording the right-hand center of pressure on a pressure mat and the perceived exertion index from the Borg scale. RESULTS: The classic quadrupedal exercise showed symmetrical activation between the two measured sides of the muscles, ranging from approximately 43.74 to 60.57% of the maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). The condition of upper limbs symmetrical elevation with the abdomen supported by the swiss ball showed significantly greater activation by the trunk muscles than the other conditions (between 58.51 to 75.38% of the MVC, p <0.0005 ) and lower activation of the transverse abdominal muscles (approximately 31.48% of the MVC, p < 0.0008). Regarding the stabilometry and the Borg index, the homolateral condition suggested a higher instability with a statistically significant difference (p = 0.0114). CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the exercise that proved to be the most challenging regarding palmar stability and perceived exertion was the homolateral quadruped (EQ5). However, the same was not the one that resulted in greater muscle recruitment. Regarding this condition, the classical exercise (EQ1) was the one that presented smaller differences between the recruitment levels between the studied muscles, bilaterally, proving to be an excellent option for those subjects who need postural muscle conditioning. Among these five conditions, exercise with upper limb elevation simultaneously with abdominal support on the Swiss ball (EQ3) resulted in significant higher levels of muscle recruitment as regards trunk extensor musculature. However, this condition also resulted in less muscle activation than abdominal muscles.