Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Therapy, The Graduate School, Inje University, Korea | [b] Department of Physical Therapy, College of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Inje University, Korea
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Won-Gyu Yoo, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Inje University, 607 Obangdong, Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do 621-749, Korea. Tel.: +82 55 320 3994; Fax: +82 55 329 1678; E-mail:won7y@inje.ac.kr
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The prone bridge is one of core stability exercises, which is important to
maintain pelvic position as neutral. Elevated feet position is simple way to
increase the external load, but have not been investigated the effect for
muscle activity and pelvic position. OBJECTIVE: Present study is to investigate the effect of feet height on muscle activity
and pelvic tilt angle during the prone bridge exercise. METHOD: Surface electromyographic responses of the rectus abdominis, internal
oblique, erector spinae, serratus anterior, and pelvic anterior tilt angles
were investigated during the prone bridge exercise with step boxes of
different heights under the feet. A total of 18 healthy, physically active
female volunteers completed the normal prone bridge exercise (NP), prone
bridge exercise with a low step box (PL), and prone bridge exercise with a
high step box (PH). RESULTS: The PL condition caused significant increases in the activity of the
internal oblique muscles compared with the NP condition (P < 0.05). PL and
PH, which used step boxes, showed significantly greater activation in the
serratus anterior compared to the NP (P < 0.05). The pelvic anterior tilt
angle during PH was significantly greater than that during PL or NP (P <
0.05). CONCLUSION: The high step box increased the pelvic anterior tilt angle with no
additional abdominal muscle activity. The prone bridge exercise could be
effective by adopting horizontal position between upper and lower body,
compared to inclined lower body and general position.
