Effects of Conscious Abdominal Contraction on Periscapular Muscle Activity

• Published in: Clinical kinesiology (2003) Vol. 72; no. 4; pp. 23 - 28
• Main Authors: Santos, Michelle R, Cavalcante, Bruno R, Ferreira, Fernanda L.S, Nascimento, Vinicius Y.S, Oliveira, Valeria M.A, Souza, Francis T, Pitangui, Ana C.R, de Araujo, Rodrigo C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego American Kinesiotherapy Association 22-12-2018; Clinical Kinesiology
• Subjects: Abdomen; Electrodes; Electromyography; Isometric exercise; Muscle function; Rehabilitation; Studies; Brazil
• ISSN: 0896-9620

Purpose: This study was conducted to test the effects of conscious abdominal contraction on electromyographic activity of the periscapular muscles during two isometric exercises. Methods: Eighteen subjects participated in the study. Electromyographic signals of the upper, middle and lower trapezius, upper and lower portion of the anterior serratus, external and internal oblique were obtained during two variations of isometric exercises (bilateral and 3-point push-ups) with and without conscious contraction. Two-way ANOVA was used to detect differences during the exercises and conscious abdominal contraction. Relationships between the abdominal and periscapular muscles was checked by Pearson correlation. Key Results: Conscious abdominal contraction increased the activity of anterior serratus in both exercises. The trapezius muscle was not influenced by the exercises. All the analyzed muscles showed higher activity during the 3-point exercise without conscious abdominal contraction. The conscious abdominal contraction only provided an increase in trapezius activity during the bilateral exercise. Positive correlations were observed between activity of the external oblique muscle with upper and lower anterior serratus in both exercises. Conclusion: Conscious abdominal contraction is effective to increase serratus activity. Regarding the trapezius muscles, conscious abdominal contraction increase muscular activity when combined with the bilateral push-up exercise, but the activity with the 3-point exercise was not significant. Keywords: muscular endurance, scapula, upper limbs