McKinney Chiropractor Best Practices
Research Commentary;
Reduce Low Back Pain with Core Stability
A review of
Electromyographic Changes in Trunk Muscles During Graded Lumbar Stabilization Exercises
Chung Reen Kim MD, MS, Dae Kwon Park MD, Seok Tae Lee MD, Ju Seok Ryu MD, PhD
Review by Dr. Tim Dunn
Summarized Review Conclusions
This article explains how core/low back stabilizing exercises such as deadbugs, superman’s, and birddogs can help to strengthen the muscles around the core and stabilize the hips and low back. This in turn will reduce low back pain and increase strength and stability in those regions. This is important because, all of these exercises highlighted in this article are utilized in our clinics for patients dealing with low back pain or instability issues and the research proves that they are beneficial at actually strengthening the low back/core and can help to decrease back pain.
“Four common lumbar stabilization exercises were selected, including the curl up, dead bug, Superman, and bird dog exercises.”
“graded lumbar stabilization exercise program may represent an effective way to strengthen the lumbar stabilizing muscles in patients with low back pain.”
“In general, as the level of intensity increased, the activity of the related lumbar stabilizing muscles also increased significantly.”
Introduction to the Research
This research was done to show if lumbar/core stabilization exercises were effective at increasing the musculature and stabilization around the low back and hip region to help with low back pain. The research presented in this article is important to us in the chiropractic community because we utilize many of these exercises in our practice to help patients with low back pain. This research proved that these exercises outlined in this article do increase the musculature and strength and stabilization in the core and low back and help with reducing low back pain.
Research Methodology
Four common lumbar stabilization exercises were selected, including the curl up, dead bug, Superman, and bird dog exercises. Each exercise was divided into 5 intensity levels, with participants performing all exercises at each intensity level, to a total of 20 exercises. Electromyographic changes in the trunk muscles according to intensity level were analyzed
Research Findings
In general, as the level of intensity increased, the activity of the related lumbar stabilizing muscles also increased significantly (P < .05). Specifically, the peak amplitudes of the RA (P = .008) and EO (P < .001) were increased during the curl up exercise, whereas the peak amplitudes of the MF (P < .001) and ES (P = .002) were increased during the bird dog exercise. The prolonged exercise duration of the Superman exercise increased the mean area under the curve of MF, ES, and RA (P < .001).
Using a graded exercise program, an appropriate level of exercise intensity can be prescribed and modulated according to patient tolerance and physical ability. Therefore, a graded lumbar stabilization exercise program may represent an effective way to strengthen the lumbar stabilizing muscles in patients with low back pain.
Research References
As always with these reviews, these are my takeaways from the article and I encourage you to read the article in its entirety. The references used in this article by the authors of this article are listed here.
Our Message
We love to help our patients in McKinney stay healthy. We are here to relieve back pain, neck pain and headaches while also teaching about how our diet and stress effects our over all health. Taking care of your mental health is just as important as the chiropractic adjustment and getting the proper nutrients to stay healthy. Our Doctors, near the corner of Eldorado Pkwy. and Stonebridge Dr., want to help you stay healthy by eating well, moving better and managing stress.