Co-contraction of the core muscles during Pilates exercise on the Wunda Chair.

BACKGROUND: The co-contraction of the core muscles has been reported as the key mechanism towards spinal stability. Classic Pilates exercises aimed at these muscles are known to improve the stability and strength of the trunk without damaging the deep structures of the spine. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the co-contraction of the mobilizing (rectus abdominis; longissimus) and stabilizing (multifidus; internal oblique) trunk muscles during Pilates exercises - going up front, mountain climber, and swan. METHODS: Sixteen women, all Pilates practitioners, participated in the study. The stabilizing and mobilizing muscles of the trunk (right side) were submitted to electromyography to calculate the percentage of co-contraction during the exercises. One-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to verify the difference in %COCON between stabilizers and mobilizers among the three exercises. The post-hoc Bonferroni test (P< 0.01) was applied when necessary. The paired t-test (P< 0.01) was used to verify the difference in %COCON between stabilizers and mobilizers separately for each exercise. RESULTS: The co-contraction values of the stabilizers were higher than those of the mobilizers for all exercises. The going up front (stabilizers) and the swan (mobilizers) exercises showed the highest %COCON values. CONCLUSIONS: The Pilates method is effective for either rehabilitating pathologies or training the trunk muscles in healthy individuals and athletes.

Avaliação eletromiográfica do exercício swan na Wunda Chair: Co-ativação dos músculos do core / Electromyographic evaluation of the swan exercise in the Wunda Chair: Co-activation of the core muscles

A principal finalidade do método Pilates é desenvolver uma automação dos músculos do core. Sendo assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a razão eletromiográfica dos músculos Oblíquo Interno (OI) e Reto do Abdômen (RA) localizados na parte anterior do tronco, a razão eletromiográfica dos músculos Multífido (MU) e Longuíssimo do Tórax (LO) localizados na parte posterior do tronco, e também a razão ântero-posterior (A/P=RA+IO/LO+MU) desses músculos durante o exercício swan do método Pilates, realizado sobre a Wunda Chair. Na comparação entre as três razões, foram encontradas diferenças estatísticas (p = 0,0103), apenas entre as razões ântero-posterior (A/P), e entre a razão dos músculos localizados na parte posterior do tronco (MU/LO). Os resultados demonstraram que houve um predomínio na atividade eletromiográfica dos músculos da região posterior em relação aos músculos da região anterior do tronco e que os músculos estabilizadores apresentaram maior atividade eletromiográfica em comparação com os músculos globais ou mobilizadores. O exercício swan pode ser utilizado como forma de treinamento para a musculatura do tronco, e como consequência gerar maior estabilidade a coluna vertebral, pois o exercício prioriza a diminuição da carga sobre a coluna vertebral. (AU)

The main purpose of the Pilates method is to develop an automation of core muscles. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the electromyographic ratio of the Internal Oblique (IO) and Rectus Abdominis (RA) muscles located in the anterior part of the trunk, the electromyographic ratio of the Multifidus (MU) and Longissimus Thoracis (LO) muscles, located in the posterior part of the trunk, and also the ratio antero- posterior (A/P=RA+IO/LO+MU) of these muscles during the swan exercise of the Pilates, performed on the Wunda Chair. In the comparison between the three ratios, statistical differences (p = 0.0013) were found only between the antero-posterior (A/P) ratios and the ratio of the muscles located in the posterior part of the trunk (MU/LO). The results showed a predominance of the electromyographic activity in the muscles of the posterior region in relation to the muscles of the anterior region of the trunk. The stabilizing muscles presented greater electromyographic activity in comparison to the global or mobilizing muscles. The swan can be used as training for the trunk muscles, and therefore generates greater stability of the spine, since exercise prioritizes the decrease of the load on the spine. (AU)

Comparison of the effects of different physical activities on laterality and asymmetry values through side bridge test

Aim: To compare the effects of different physical activities on laterality and asymmetry values through the side bridge test. Methods: the assessments were carried out in 45 subjects between 18 and 30 years old, 15 Crossfit-trained individuals, 15 weight trained and 15 sedentary. The subjects performed the side bridge test on both sides. After checking the normality and homogeneity of the data, we selected the appropriate statistical analysis for the comparison of the variables, adopting a significance level of α <0.05. Results: there was no statistical difference in the balance ratio; however, significant difference was found in the side bridge test endurance time, in which the Crossfit group obtained longer times on both sides than the other two groups. The side bridge test is a test of simple execution and that in this study the Crossfit group presented better results in the endurance time in the side bridge test. Conclusion: the results of the ratio asymmetry and endurance time are not sufficient to evaluate the resistance of the core muscles but could be an evaluation tool, the side bridge test can be introduced in postural training programs.(AU)

Análise cinemática das distâncias percorridas por jogadores de basquetebol de elite durante um jogo / Kinematic analysis of the distances covered by basketball elite players during a game

Introdução: os esportes coletivos têm se tornado um objeto de investigação científica em diversas áreas do conhecimento, e um desses esportes é o basquetebol. Entre os métodos de investigação das múltiplas variáveis esportivas está a videogrametria, que a partir de filmagens pode fornecer a posição dos jogadores em função do tempo. Objetivos: o objetivo geral desse trabalho foi analisar as distâncias percorridas por jogadores de basquetebol de uma equipe de elite, nos jogos como mandante, por videogrametria. Métodos: foi filmado um jogo da temporada 2011/2012 do Novo Basquete Brasil (NBB). Após a aquisição das sequências de imagens, foi realizado no Sistema Dvideo (FEF-Unicamp, Campinas, Brasil) o rastreamento manual da posição de todos os jogadores, durante toda a partida, e a reconstrução 2D da posição em função do tempo, em relação a um sistema de referência real definido na quadra. Resultados: foram encontradas diferenças significativas nas distâncias percorridas entre quartos para bola viva (p = 0.002), e entre os quartos para bola morta (p = 0.001). Conclusão: as análises das distâncias percorridas totais, distâncias percorridas por minuto e tempos jogados de jogadores por jogo, por período de jogo, em bola viva (cronometro ativo) e bola morta (cronômetro parado) apresentaram diferenças importantes para a descrição de parte do volume dos esforços realizados o que pode auxiliar técnicos e preparadores físicos para o treinamento dos atletas.

Introduction: team sports have become an object of scientific investigation in several areas of knowledge, and one of those sports is basketball. Among the methods of investigation of multiple variables is videogrammetry sports, that can provide filming from the position of the players with respect to time. Objectives: the aim of this study was to analyze the distances covered by basketball players of an elite team in the game as principal, for videogrammetry. Methods: We filmed a game of the 2011/2012 season of the New Basketball Brazil (NBB). Following the acquisition of image sequences, it was held at Dvideo System (FEF-Unicamp, Campinas, Brazil) manual tracking of the position of all the players throughout the match, and the 2D reconstruction of the position versus time, for a real reference system defined on the court. Results: there were significant differences in the distances between periods for live ball (p = 0.002), and between the rooms for dead ball (p = 0.001). Conclusion: the analysis of the total distance covered, distance covered per minute and played times players per game, per game period, live-ball (active timer) and dead ball (stopped clock) showed important differences for describing part of the volume the efforts which can help coaches and trainers for the training of athletes.