Email this article 
Activation of Selected Core Muscles during Pressing
Abstract
Introduction: Unstable surface training is often used to activate core musculature during resistance training. Unfortunately, unstable surface training is risky and leads to detraining. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine core muscle activation during stable surface ground-based lifts. Methods: Fourteen recreational trained and former NCAA DI athletes (weight 84.2 ± 13.3 kg; height 176.0 ± 9.5 cm; age 20.9 ± 2.0 years) volunteered for participation. Subjects completed two ground-based lifts: overhead press and push-press. Surface EMG was recorded from 4 muscles on the right side of the body (Rectus Abdominus (RA), External Oblique (EO), Transverse Abdominus (TA), and Erector Spinae (ES). Results: Paired sample T-tests identified significant muscle activation differences between the overhead press and the push-press included ES and EO. Average and peak EMG for ES was significantly greater in push-press (P<0.01). Anterior displacement of COP was significantly greater in push-press compared to overhead press during the eccentric phase. Conclusion: The push-press was identified as superior in core muscle activation when compared to the overhead pressing exercise.
Keywords: torso, stability, weight lifting, resistance training
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Akuthota, V, and Nadler, SF. (2004) Core strengthening. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 85(3 suppl):S86-92.
Anderson, KG, and Behm, DG. (2004) Maintenance of EMG Activity and Loss of Force Output with Instability. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 18, 637-640.
Anderson, K, and Behm, DG. (2005) Trunk muscle activity increases with unstable squat movements. Canadian Journal of Applied Physiology, 30:33-45.
Barnett, C. Kippers, V. Turner, P. (1995) Effects of Variations of the Bench Press Exercise on the EMG Activity of Five Shoulder Muscles. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 9, 222-227.
Behm, DG, Drinkwater, EJ, Willardson, JM, and Cowley, PM. (2010) Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology position stand: The use of instability to train the core in athletic and nonathletic conditioning. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism, 35:109-112.
Bompa, TO. (1999) Periodization Training for Sports. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Byrne, JM, Bishop, NS, Caines, AM, Crane, KA, Feaver, AM, and Pearcey, GEP. (2014) Effect of using s suspension training system on muscle activation during the performance of a front plack exercise. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 28:3049-3055.
Gullett, JC, Tillman, MD, Gutierrez, GM, and Chow, JW. (2009) A biomechanical comparison of back and front squats in healthy trained individuals. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 23, 284-292.
Gamble, P. An integrated approach to training core stability. (2007) Strength and Conditioning Journal, 29, 58-68.
Hermens, H, Freriks, B, Disselhorst-Klug, C, Rau, G. (2000) Development of recommendations for SEMG sensors and sensor placement procedures. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 10: 361-374.
Kibler, BW, Press, J, Sciascia. (2006). The role of core stability in athletic function. Sports Medicine, 36(3):189-198.
Kohler, JM, Flanagan, SP, and Whiting, WC. (2010) Muscle activation patterns while lifting stable and unstable loads on stable and unstable surfaces. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 24, 313-321.
Leetun, DT, Ireland, ML, Willson, JD, Ballantyne, BT, and Davis, IM. (2004) Core stability measures as risk factors for lower extremity injury in athletes. Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise, 36, 926-934.
Marshall, PWM, and Murphy, BA. (2006) Increased deltoid and abdominal muscle activity during swiss ball bench press. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 20: 745-750.
Mayhew, JL, Bird, M, Cole, ML, Koch, AJ, Jacques, JA, Ware, JS, Buford, BN, and Fletcher, KM. (2005) Comparison of the backward overhead medicine ball throw to power production in college football players. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 19: 514-518.
McGill, SM. (2009) Ultimate Back Fitness and Performance. (4th ed.). Waterloo, Ontario, Canada: Wabuno Publishers.
McGill, SM, Grenier, S, Kavcic, N, Cholewicki, J. (2003) Coordination of muscle activity to assure stability of the lumbar spine. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 13:353-359.
Norwood, JI, Anderson, GS, Gaetz, MB, and Twist, PW. (2007) Electromyographic activity of the trunk stabilizers during stable and unstable bench press. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 21:343-347.
Parkhouse, KL. and Ball, N. (2011) Influence of dynamic versus static core exercises on performance in field based fitness tests. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 15:517-524.
Saeterbakken, AH, and Fimland, MS. (2013) Muscle force output and electromyographic activity in squats with various unstable surfaces. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research,27:130-136.
Shinkle, J, Nesser, TW, Demchak, TM, and McMannus, DM. (2012) Effect of Core Strength on the Measure of Power in the Extremities. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research,25:373-380.
Snarr, RL and Esco, MR. (2014) Electromyographical comparison of plank variations performed with and without instability devices. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 28:3298-3305.
Uribe, BP, Coburn, JW, Brown, LE, Judelson, DA, Khamoui, AV, and Nguyen, D. (2010) Muscle activation when performing the chest press and shoulder press on a stable bench vs. a Swiss ball. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 24, 1028-1033.
Willardson, J. Core stability training: applications to sports conditioning programs. (2007) Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 21:979-985.
Willardson, J, Fontana, FE, Bressel, E. (2009) Effect of surface stability on core muscle activity for dynamic resistance exercises. International Journal of Sports Physiology Performance, 4:97-109.
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
2013-2023 (CC-BY) Australian International Academic Centre PTY.LTD.
International Journal of Kinesiology and Sports Science
You may require to add the 'aiac.org.au' domain to your e-mail 'safe list’ If you do not receive e-mail in your 'inbox'. Otherwise, you may check your 'Spam mail' or 'junk mail' folders.