Core Exercises Effects on Muscle Imbalances

NCT ID: NCT04450615

Last Updated: 2020-11-10

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

20 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2020-05-20

Study Completion Date

2020-08-05

Brief Summary

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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.

Detailed Description

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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.

Conditions

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Muscle Atrophy or Weakness Muscle Contraction Core Stability

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Investigators

Study Groups

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Training group

The first part of the program aims in pelvic and hip mobility and includes the following exercises, glute bridge, single-leg glute bridge, side-lying clam, side plank and side plank with hip abduction, on stable surface.

The second part consists of exercises for deep and superficial trunk muscles. In the first exercise the participants learn to activate the transversus abdominis muscle from the crook-lying position, by performing abdominal hollow. Other exercises include the front plank, trunk curl-up, trunk curl-up on stable surface and curl-up on unstable surface (Swiss ball).

The third part of the program consists of exercises for strengthening the lumbar multifidus muscle. The participants will perform prone trunk extension, superman exercise, quadruped diagonal arm and leg lift, single leg supine bridge and supine bridge on unstable surface (Swiss ball).

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Core stability

Intervention Type OTHER

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

Control group

The participants of this group will follow their typical daily routine

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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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

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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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
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

45 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Athanasios Ellinoudis

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Athanasios Ellinoudis

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Athanasios Ellinoudis, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Laboratory of Neuromechanics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Locations

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Laboratory of Neuromechanics, Department of physical education and sport sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Serres, , Greece

Site Status

Countries

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Greece

Other Identifiers

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ERC-006/2020

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id