The Effects of a Bridging Exercise Applying Changes in the Base of Support for the Shoulders on Trunk Muscle Activation

PURPOSE: Bridge exercise is widely used in rehabilitation exercise for trunk stabilization through various applications in clinical practice. However, there is a lack of studies changing the base of support for the shoulders. The purpose of this study is to investigate the changes in the base of support for the shoulders of trunk muscle activation during bridge exercise. METHODS: 20 healthy subjects (10 men, 10 women) in their twenties were participated in this study. They performed 5 bridge exercises (bridge exercise with their shoulders on a stable table (1/2 knee height, knee height), and on a sling (1/2 knee height, knee height), conventional bridge exercise. The surface electromyography were used for rectus abdominis (RA), internal oblique (IO), external oblique (EO), and erector spinae (ES). RESULTS: During bridge exercise that their shoulders on the sling of 1/2 knee height, the RA, EO, IO muscle activities were significant increased. And during bridge exercise that