Effect of Exhaustive Exercise on Lumbopelvic-Hip Complex Stability, Muscle Activity, and Movement Patterns

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of exhaustive exercise on lumbopelvic-hip complex (LPHC) muscle activity, stability, and single-leg squat kinematics. Twenty-two healthy participants (12 females, 23.5 ± 3.1 years) were recruited. LPHC stability was measured by number of errors committed during a seated trunk control test (STCT). Surface electromyography recorded muscle activity of rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique, internal oblique (IO), erector spinae, and gluteus medius during the STCT and single-leg squat, and was normalized to peak activity during the task. Two-dimensional motion analysis quantified frontal and sagittal plane kinematics of the trunk, hip, and knee. Following exhaustive exercise, STCT performance worsened (number of errors: pre: 5.5 (interquartile range (IQR) = 1.4–9.0), post: 8.0 (IQR = 3.6–11.3), p = 0.026.), RA activity increased during the single-leg squat (pre: 42.1 (IQR = 33.6–48.5)%, post: 61.1 (IQR = 39.4–156.7 %, p =.004), and participants displayed less hip and knee flexion (hip: pre: 72.4 ± 22.1°; post: 66.2 ± 22.5°, p =.049; knee: pre: 72.4 ± 15.4°; post: 67.4 ± 18.2°, p =.005). Full-body exhaustive exercise negatively affected isolated LPHC stability and resulted in greater RA activity during the single-leg squat. Hip and knee flexion decreased during a single-leg squat after exhaustive exercise which could indicate decreased athletic performance, but changes in the quality of movement during other tasks should be further investigated.