Development of EMG-guided QUADRICORE exercise protocol targeting myofascial slings and exploring its efficacy on core and limb performance
Description
Muscles connected along a common fascia forming the myofascial slings would work better to stabilize the lumbopelvic region and thereby help strengthen the core and limb functions in a more comprehensive method than through individual means of training. Hence the purpose of the study was to develop a novel ‘Quadricore’ exercise protocol and evaluate its effects on core strength and functional performance. The development of the protocol was based on kinesio-EMG analysis on 6 athletes who performed 15 exercises including all the 4 slings out of which 8 exercises were included in the protocol. For validation, a pilot study was done with plank hold as the outcome measure in which participants were trained thrice a week for 4 weeks which showed significant improvement. This validated protocol was then tested on 18 healthy individuals on outcome measures like, plank hold test, seated medicine ball throw, and gait speed, and a pre–post evaluation was taken.
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Steps to reproduce
Muscles connected along a common fascia forming the myofascial slings would work better to stabilize the lumbopelvic region and thereby help strengthen the core and limb functions in a more comprehensive method than through individual means of training. Hence the purpose of the study was to develop a novel ‘Quadricore’ exercise protocol and evaluate its effects on core strength and functional performance. The development of the protocol was based on kinesio-EMG analysis on 6 athletes who performed 15 exercises including all the 4 slings out of which 8 exercises were included in the protocol. For validation, a pilot study was done with plank hold as the outcome measure in which participants were trained thrice a week for 4 weeks which showed significant improvement. This validated protocol was then tested on 18 healthy individuals on outcome measures like, plank hold test, seated medicine ball throw, and gait speed, and a pre–post evaluation was taken. There was a significant improvement in plank hold duration (p=0.001), upper limb performance (p=0.025), and gait speed (p=0.001). The lower limb performance showed improvement in the dominant leg (p=0.0477) with no effect on the non-dominant leg (0.0750). The study concluded that the novel “Quadricore” exercise protocol activates all the muscles belonging to the four myofascial slings as tested with surface EMG and was also effective in improving core strength, upper limb performance, gait speed, and dominant lower limb performance which can be included in exercise regimes and dance professional training as well as physical education programs.