Evaluation of trunk muscles electrical activity, load of exercise and subjective sensation using outdoor fitness equipment for young adults

Abstract

Introduction. According to the World Health Organization, physical inactivity is the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality (1). Outdoor fitness equipment (OFE) areas have become popular in public spaces, they potentially increase people’s awareness and improve public health through increased physical activity (PA) (2)(3). Studies stated that OFE has a positive effect: it increases PA and attracts people with sedentary lifestyles to exercise (4). However, little is known about OFE usage, so electromyography was used to check how much OFE can affect core muscles during PA. Aim: To evaluate the electrical activity of trunk muscles, load of exercise and subjective sensation while performing exercises with outdoor fitness equipment for young adults. Research methods and organization. The study was approved by Research Ethics Committee (Nr. BEC-SR(M)-132). The study involved 16 subjects with average age of 22.94 ± 1.61 years. Selection criteria: voluntary consent to participate; no diagnosed neurological and musculoskeletal disorders; no musculoskeletal injuries or pain in the lower back, knees, hips, shoulders and wrists in the last three months and subjects were non-professionals at any sport. Participants were in one exercise group, which included instructions of every exercise, warm-up (7 min.), seven different exercises using OFE (7 min.). Exercises were for different muscle groups and required correct posture. Workout began with sliding (SD) which included most muscle groups and was followed with exercises for different muscle groups. Every exercise of OFE was performed for 30s. with 30s. rest time for only one set during assessment. The electrical activity of the trunk muscles, measured by an electromyograph (Myotrace 400). Assessed muscles: musculus rectus abdominis (RA), musculus erector spinae (ES), musculus obliques abdominis internus (OI), musculus multifidus (MF). Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale was used to measure the load intensity of exercises. RPE it is a self-reported scale ranging from 1 – 10, 1 meaning very light activity and 10 – maximal effort activity. Subjective sensation was evaluated with original questionnaire created by the study author, which consisted of questions about pain, comfort, and control of the body and subjects told their sensations during every exercise. The analysis of the research data was performed by the means of mathematical statistical methods using IBM SPSS Statistics 27 software. The Fryman criterion was used to compare more than three dependent samples. Quantitative data are presented as median (m), minimum value (xmin), maximum value (xmax), and mean (x) - m (xmin - xmax; x). Qualitative data are given as a percentage. The difference was considered statistically significant when p < 0.05. […]