Effects of running in place accompanied by abdominal drawing-in on the posture of healthy adults.

[Purpose] This study aimed to determine the effect of running in place accompanied by abdominal drawing-in on the posture of healthy adults. [Subjects] A total of 30 subjects were divided into a training group and a control group, each containing 15 subjects. [Methods] The training group performed running in place accompanied by abdominal drawing-in for 30 min daily, three times a week for six weeks. Trunk inclination (TIN), trunk imbalance (TIM), pelvic position (PPO), pelvic torsion (PTO), pelvic rotation (PRO), and position of the scapulae (PSA) were assessed using BackMapper for both the training group and the control group before and after the experiment.
[Results] Comparison of the results of the training and control groups before and after the experiment showed that the training group had statistically significant changes in TIN, TIM, PPO, PTO, and PSA, while the control group had no statistically significant changes in any items.
[Conclusion] Running in place can be conveniently utilized by students or workers, regardless of time and place, as an exercise for postural improvement.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes

INTRODUCTION

Many dysfunctions are increasing in modern society due to excessive sedentary hours, which are a result of advancements of industrial society, and a lack of exercise. Excessively sedentary lifestyles cause weakening of the abdominal muscles and poor posture, as well as physical imbalance. Spinal deformity due to these factors can cause serious health problems and low back pain1). In particular, excessive biomechanical burdens due to a sedentary lifestyle can induce weakening of abdominal muscles, general muscle weakening, instability of spinal joints, pain in the lumbar spine, reduced endurance, and restriction of flexibility and joint range of motion (ROM)2).

Abnormal posture can cause various problems, including flat-back syndrome, cervical kyphosis, and local organ ailments, such as uterine prolapse and gastric herniation3). One of the main deep muscles for lumbar stability is the transversus abdominis4). A number of studies have reported the importance of the transversus abdominis, which contributes significantly to lumbar stability and posture5).

To improve reduced lumbar stability caused by modern sedentary lifestyles, running in place while contracting the transverse abdominis and the multifidus through abdominal drawing-in has been recommended. Exercises similar to running in place, such as plyometrics6), circuit training7), and core stability exercises8), have been proposed. These exercises improve trunk muscle strength and flexibility because they strengthen the core muscles that together maintain lumbar stability9). A number of studies on postural improvement can be found in the literature. These include lumbo-pelvic stabilization and postural improvement through bridge exercises10) and various mat exercises11), lumbar stabilization improvement through running in place12), and gait improvement13).

However, plyometrics, circuit training, core stability exercises, bridge exercises, and mat exercises require systematic programs under the supervision of experts, as well as equipment and appropriate locations for the exercises. Because of these drawbacks, typical students and workers cannot employ such exercises for the purpose of postural correction. In contrast, running in place can conveniently be done regardless of time and location. Although studies on running in place have been conducted to report on lumbar stability improvement, none have been conducted on running in place to verify postural improvements.

Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effects or running in place, which can be done regardless of time and place and without the aid of tools or equipment, for six weeks on postural changes.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

This study choose 30 university students and randomly divided them into a training group (2 males and 13 females) that participated in running in place and a control group (2 males and 13 females) that did not run in place. The selection criteria were as follows: no structural abnormality of the spine before participation in the experiment, no pain in the spine (such as low back pain), no medication, no neurological diseases, no drinking before the experiment, and not overweight. Those who performed weight training, which can affect posture, and those who performed regular exercise were excluded from the experiment. This study was approved by university’s institutional review board and the subjects were safely protected during all of the processes of the experiment. All of the subjects understood the purpose of this study and provided written informed consent prior to participation in the study in accordance with the ethical standards of the Declaration of Helsinki. The mean age, height, and weight of the training group were 22.6±0.3 years, 161.5±3.1 cm, and 56.3±6.5 kg respectively. The mean age, height, and weight of the control group were 21.8±0.6 years, 162.5±5.3 cm, and 56.2±5.3 kg respectively. Analysis of gender was done by χ2 test, and analysis of age, height, and weight was done by independent t-test. In the analysis, no statistically significant difference was found (p>0.05), so that no issues were found to be homogeneous between the two groups.

To maintain correct posture while running in place, a 30 × 30-cm square mark was placed on the floor and the subjects were positioned in its center. The subjects kept their waists straight and looked to the front by pulling in the chin, thereby maintaining the neutral position of the cervical spine. They contracted the transverse abdominis and multifidus muscles through abdominal drawing-in in order to maintain a neutral position of the waist and pelvis and ran in place in the limited square space without wobbling to the front, back, right, or left. To apply the principle of incremental loads and an appropriate exercise-strength setup, only two sets were performed during the first and second weeks out of a total of six weeks, and three sets were performed during the third to sixth weeks. Each set consisted of 20 running units followed by a 15-sec rest, 20 running units followed by a 15-sec rest, 30 running units followed by a 20-sec rest, 30 running units followed by a 20-sec rest, and then 30 running units. A 3-min rest was given between sets. One running unit was defined as the feet touching the ground one after the other. The speed of running in place was set to 17 running units per 10 sec12). A 5-min warm-up was conducted before the main exercise began and light stretching was conducted as a cooldown after the main exercise for 5 min, resulting in 30 min of exercise three times a week for six weeks. The subjects in the control group performed their normal daily routines without any particular exercise and were subjected to two sets of measurements.

To measure posture, BackMapper (ABW, Frickenhausen, Germany), a three-dimensional-image spine diagnostic system, was used. This equipment can measure the shape and location of the spine, and the degree of twist in the pelvis relatively precisely, by viewing the spine from the front, back, lower, and upper sides, as well as in the sagittal plane. It can also analyze trunk inclination (TIN) in the sagittal plane, trunk imbalance (TIM) in the coronal plane, pelvic position (PPO), pelvic torsion (PTO), pelvic rotation (PRO) in the horizontal plane, and position of the scapulae (PSA) by showing the muscles, fat distribution, position of the skeleton, and various other factors.

The measured data were analyzed with the SPSS 12.0 KO statistical program, and the collected data are presented as means and standard deviations. The paired t-test was used as a significance test in each group before and after the experiments, and an independent t-test was used as a significance test for between-group differences. The significance level, α, was set at 0.05.

RESULTS

Comparison of the results between the training group and the control group before and after the experiment showed that the training group showed statistically significant changes in TIN, TIM, PPO, PTO, and PSA, while the control group showed no statistically significant changes in any items (p<0.05) (Table 1). Comparison of the differences between the training and control groups before the experiment, after the experiment, and between the first and last measurements showed that none of the items were statistically significantly different before the experiment; however differences in TIN, TIM, PPO, PTO, and PSA showed statistical significance after the experiment, and TIM and PPO were statistically significantly different between the first and last measurements (p<0.05) (Table 2).

Table 1.

Comparison of TIN, TIM, PPO, PTO, PRO and PSA between before and after the experiment in each group (mean±SD) (unit: TIN, TIM, PPO, PTO and PRO, degrees; PSA, mm)

Category	Group	Before	After
TIN	Training G*	2.5±1.3	1.2±0.8
	Control G	2.5±0.9	2.4±1.4
TIM	Training G*	2.5±2.4	1.1±0.8
	Control G	2.5±1.5	2.5±1.4
PPO	Training G*	2.4±1.2	1.2±0.7
	Control G	2.4±1.4	2.8±1.6
PTO	Training G*	3.6±2.4	1.1±0.3
	Control G	3.2±2.9	3.0±2.0
PRO	Training G	2.3±1.5	1.5±0.7
	Control G	2.3±1.6	2.29±1.53
PSA	Training G*	4.6±2.7	2.6±1.3
	Control G	4.7±2.9	4.5±3.0

*p<0.05. TIN: trunk inclination; TIM: trunk imbalance; PPO: pelvic position; PTO: pelvic torsion; PRO: pelvic rotation; PSA: position of scapulae

Table 2.

Comparison of TIN, TIM, PPO, PTO, PRO and PSA between the training group and control group (mean±SD) (unit: TIN, TIM, PPO, PTO and PRO, degrees; PSA, mm)

	Category	Training G	Control G
Before experiment	TIN	2.5±1.3	2.5±0.9
	TIM	2.5±2.4	2.5±1.5
	PPO	2.4±1.2	2.4±1.4
	PTO	3.6±2.4	3.2±2.9
	PRO	2.3±1.5	2.3±1.6
	PSA	4.6±2.7	4.7±2.9
After experiment	TIN*	1.2±0.8	2.4±1.4
	TIM*	1.1±0.8	2.5±1.4
	PPO*	1.2±0.7	2.8±1.6
	PTO*	1.1±0.3	3.0±2.0
	PRO	1.5±0.7	2.2±1.5
	PSA*	2.6±1.3	4.5±3.0
Change between before and after the experiment	TIN	1.2±1.4	0.1±1.7
	TIM*	1.4±2.3	0.0±1.4
	PPO*	1.1±1.5	-0.4±1.7
	PTO	2.4±2.5	0.23±4.4
	PRO	0.7±1.7	0.0±2.3
	PSA	2.0±2.6	0.1±4.4

*p<0.05

DISCUSSION

Correct posture is very important because it can affect not only the efficiency of bodily functions but also posture and outer appearance14). Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of running in place on postural correction for normal adults. Running in place can reduce muscle fatigue and put loads on various muscles, thereby improving aerobic exercise ability and muscle strength at the same time, as well as strengthening the trunk and abdominal muscles that contribute to lumbar stabilization12). In addition, it can improve trunk muscle strength and flexibility and changes in posture by improving gait and lumbar stability due to the dynamic motion of the lower and upper body. Exercises similar to running in place, such as Pilates, core stabilization exercises, plyometrics, and circuit training have been previously studied. Endleman reported that performance of intensive Pilates that focused on the core by 18 healthy adult females and eight adult males for six months resulted in a significant difference in the transversus abdominis after measuring its muscle thickness and in the internal oblique abdominis, thereby proving the positive effect of core training on abdominal strength and trunk stabilization15). Brill proposed that core stabilization exercises can maintain spinal balance based on contraction of the transverse abdominis, thereby increasing lumbar muscle strength and stability9). Myer proved that plyometrics and core stabilization exercises were effective in controlling the nerve roots and muscle power by having female high school athletes perform such exercises three times a week for seven weeks16).

In a study on postural changes, Cho placed 15 female university students into a pelvic adjustment group and 15 female university students into a stretching group and then performed pelvic adjustment through the Gonstead technique, which had a positive effect on postural changes14). In a study on running in place, Cho and Jun divided 30 participants into a training group and a control group, each containing 15 subjects; the training group performed running in place for six weeks and the results showed improved dynamic lumbar stability12). Cho reported that running in place can improve step length difference, swing phase difference, single support difference, and step time difference13).

Comparison of the results of the training group and the control group before and after the experiment in the present study showed that the training group had statistically significant changes in TIN, TIM, PPO, PTO, and PSA, while the control group had no statistically significant changes in any items. These results showed that running in place can improve mobility of the waist and pelvis, which are related to posture. They also showed that positive changes in posture can occur as a result of running in place, accompanied by dynamic movements in the upper and lower extremities, in a square-shape space with no wobbling while maintaining muscle contraction of the transversus abdominis and applying the abdominal drawing-in method. Although various exercise methods for postural correction have been proposed previously, the methods required systematic programs under the supervision of experts, as well as equipment and appropriate locations for the exercises. Therefore, we expect that running in place can be utilized as an exercise for postural correction by students or workers in the clinical field who are restricted by time and place.

This research was supported by Korea Nazarene University Research Grants in 2015.