Ui-Jae Hwang1, Oh-Yun Kwon2, Sung-Hoon Jung1, Hyun-A Kim1, Gyeong-Tae Gwak1. 1. Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Wonju, South Korea. 2. Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Laboratory of Kinetic Ergocise Based on Movement Analysis, Yonsei University, Wonju, South Korea - kwonoy@yonsei.ac.kr.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) devices for abdominal muscles are being marketed to the general public to improve physical appearance. Abdominal muscles play an important role in lumbopelvic stability for optimizing performance. We investigated the effects of NMES training of abdominal muscles on muscle size, muscle strength, endurance, and lumbopelvic stability. METHODS: Twenty-three subjects (12 females, 11 males) performed abdominal muscle NMES training for 8 weeks. Before and after NMES training, we measured muscle size (cross-sectional area [CSA] of the rectus abdominals [RA] and lateral abdominal wall [LAW]) by magnetic resonance imaging, muscle strength (trunk flexor and side bridge strength), endurance (trunk flexor and side bridge endurance time), and lumbopelvic stability (one-leg loading test). RESULTS: There were significant increases between pre- and post-NMES training differences in the size (CSA of RA 21.7-25.4%, P<0.001; CSA of LAW 9.00-9.71%, P<0.001), strength (trunk flexor 14.9%, P<0.05; side bridge 33.7-53.6%, P<0.05), and endurance (trunk flexor 29.1%, P<0.05; side bridge 24.6-28.9%, P<0.05) of abdominal muscles and lumbopelvic stability (37.2-37.4%, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: NMES training could be applied to increase muscle size and muscle performances of abdominal muscles in sports and fitness fields.
BACKGROUND: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) devices for abdominal muscles are being marketed to the general public to improve physical appearance. Abdominal muscles play an important role in lumbopelvic stability for optimizing performance. We investigated the effects of NMES training of abdominal muscles on muscle size, muscle strength, endurance, and lumbopelvic stability. METHODS: Twenty-three subjects (12 females, 11 males) performed abdominal muscle NMES training for 8 weeks. Before and after NMES training, we measured muscle size (cross-sectional area [CSA] of the rectus abdominals [RA] and lateral abdominal wall [LAW]) by magnetic resonance imaging, muscle strength (trunk flexor and side bridge strength), endurance (trunk flexor and side bridge endurance time), and lumbopelvic stability (one-leg loading test). RESULTS: There were significant increases between pre- and post-NMES training differences in the size (CSA of RA 21.7-25.4%, P<0.001; CSA of LAW 9.00-9.71%, P<0.001), strength (trunk flexor 14.9%, P<0.05; side bridge 33.7-53.6%, P<0.05), and endurance (trunk flexor 29.1%, P<0.05; side bridge 24.6-28.9%, P<0.05) of abdominal muscles and lumbopelvic stability (37.2-37.4%, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: NMES training could be applied to increase muscle size and muscle performances of abdominal muscles in sports and fitness fields.
Authors: Elisa Benito-Martínez; Diego Senovilla-Herguedas; Julio César de la Torre-Montero; María Jesús Martínez-Beltrán; María Mercedes Reguera-García; Beatriz Alonso-Cortés Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-12-03 Impact factor: 3.390