Does trunk and hip muscles strength predict performance during a core stability test?

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: A better understanding about the relationship between trunk and hip muscles strength and core stability may improve evaluation and interventions proposed to improve core stability. OBJECTIVES: To investigate if trunk and hip muscles strength predict pelvic posterior rotation during the bridge test with unilateral knee extension. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study. Sixty-one healthy individuals of both sexes (age, 28±6.4 years, weight, 66.5±10.9kg, height, 167±9.5cm) performed the bridge test with unilateral knee extension. The pelvic posterior rotation during the bridge test was obtained with two-dimensional video analysis. Isometric strength of the trunk extensors and rotators, and hip abductors, external and internal rotators and extensors were measured with a hand-held dynamometer. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify if the strength variables could explain the pelvic posterior rotation during the test. RESULTS: Muscle strength predicted pelvic posterior rotation during the bridge test (r=0.54; p=0.003). Strength of the trunk rotators (p=0.045) and hip internal rotators (p=0.015) predicted reduced magnitude of pelvic posterior rotation during the bridge test, and strength of the hip extensors (p=0.003) predicted increased magnitude of pelvic posterior rotation. CONCLUSIONS: Trunk rotators and hip internal rotators and extensors strength predict 29% of the performance during the bridge test with unilateral knee extension. The strength of these muscles should be evaluated in individuals with increased pelvic posterior rotation during the bridge test with unilateral knee extension.