Core Exercises Effects on Muscle Imbalances

Core Stability Clinical Trial

Official title:

Effects of a 5-week Core Training Program on Core Muscles' Imbalances

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT04450615
• Other study ID #: ERC-006/2020
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: May 20, 2020
• Est. completion date: August 5, 2020

Study information

• Verified date: November 2020
• Source: Aristotle University Of Thessaloniki
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

This study aims in investigating the effects of a core muscles' strengthening program on core muscles' atrophy and contraction ability. Twenty healthy adults recruited and randomly assigned to either a 5-week training group developed to activate and strengthen local trunk muscles or a control group. The training program includes isometric bridging exercises from various positions and dynamic exercises for lumbopelvic stability. Core muscles' thickness will be assessed at rest and contracting conditions, prior and after the intervention, using ultrasonography.

Description:

A total of 136 male and female adults, members of local gyms, were initially invited for participation in the study after giving their written consent. After a second contact with the participants, forms regarding the inclusion and exclusion criteria were sent for completion.

Of the 136 that initially answered positively for participation, 62 did not meet the inclusion criteria, based on their reports and the clinical examination by a health professional. Of the remaining 74 participants, 32 were excluded because of previous low back pain incidents and other recent musculoskeletal injuries that led to rehabilitation, while 22 decided to not participate for personal reasons.

The remaining 20 participants were randomly allocated to either training group or intervention group, by a neutral, blinded investigator who had no involvement and was unaware of the study purposes. The intervention group will be trained and supervised by a certified fitness instructor in a gym class, who will be responsible for the correct execution of the exercises. The duration of the intervention will be 5 weeks, 3 times a week.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 20
• Est. completion date: August 5, 2020
• Est. primary completion date: July 30, 2020
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 45 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 to 45 years old

• Trained recreationally at least 2 times a week, for the past 3 years

• Healthy

• No musculoskeletal injuries in the 6 months prior to the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of chronic low back pain

• History of hip, pelvic or low back surgery

• History of acute low back pain with duration at least 1 week, the preceding 6 months

• Involvement in similar core stability training programs the last 12 moths prior to this study

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Atrophy
• Core Stability
• Muscle Atrophy or Weakness
• Muscle Contraction
• Muscular Atrophy

Intervention

Other:
• Core stability
The exercise protocol consists of the following sets and repetitions, with a total duration of 5 weeks and a frequency of 3 sessions per week. Dynamic exercises: 2 sets of 10 to 15 repetitions (each side) Isometric exercises: 2 sets of 5 to 15 seconds (each side) Week 1- As mentioned above Week 2- Add 1 set Week 3 - Add 5 seconds and 5 repetitions Week 4 - Add 1 set Week 5- Add 5 seconds and 5 repetitions

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Greece	Laboratory of Neuromechanics, Department of physical education and sport sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki	Serres

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Athanasios Ellinoudis

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Greece, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Transversus abdominis (TrA) muscle thickness at rest and contraction	Muscle thickness (mm) is measured using ultrasonography	Change from baseline assessment at 5 weeks
Primary	Lumbar multifidus (LM) muscle thickness at rest and contraction	Muscle thickness (mm) is measured using ultrasonography	Change from baseline assessment at 5 weeks
Secondary	Contraction thickness ratio (CTR) of TrA and LM muscle	This is calculated by subtracting rest thickness from contraction thickness, dividing it to rest thickness and multiplying this value by 100 [(contraction thickness-rest thickness/rest thickness)*100]	Change from baseline assessment at 5 weeks