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Trunk Muscle Activation Patterns, Lumbar Compressive Forces, and Spine Stability When Using the Bodyblade

JM Moreside, BSR, MHK, PhD Candidate, is a registered physiotherapist, Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
FJ Vera-Garcia, PhD, is Associate Professor, Area of Physical Education and Sport, Miguel Hernandez University of Elche, Alicante, Spain
SM McGill, PhD, is Professor of Spine Biomechanics, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1

Address all correspondence to Dr McGill at: mcgill{at}healthy.uwaterloo.ca

Background and Purpose: The objective of this study was to analyze the trunk muscle activation patterns, spine kinematics, and lumbar compressive forces that occur when using the Bodyblade, a popular tool in physical medicine clinics.

Subjects: The participants were 14 male subjects who were healthy and who were recruited from a university population.

Methods: With data collected from surface electromyography of selected trunk and shoulder muscles, video analysis, and a 3-dimensional lumbar spine position sensor, modeling methods were used to quantify L4–5 compressive forces and spine stability.

Results: Large-amplitude oscillation of a vertically oriented Bodyblade resulted in the greatest activation levels of the internal oblique and external oblique muscles (average amplitude=48% and 26% of maximal voluntary isometric contraction, respectively), which were associated with L4–5 compressive forces as high as 4,328 N. Instantaneous stability increased with well-coordinated effort, muscle activation, and compression, but decreased when subjects had poor technique.

Discussion and Conclusion: The way the Bodyblade is used may either enhance or compromise spine stability. Associated lumbar compressive forces may be inappropriate for some people with compression-intolerant lumbar spine pathology.