Efficacy of Vibrapole Abdominal Strengthening Exercises on Strength in Healthy Young Individuals: An Experimental Study

Abstract

Objective: To analyze and compare the effects of Vibrapole exercises and elastic band exercises on abdominal strength in young healthy individuals. Material and Methods: In this experimental study, 80 healthy, young individuals between the age groups of 18-24 were screened and recruited and then allocated into 2 groups. Group A- abdominal strengthening exercise using vibrapole (n= 40) and Group B- abdominal strengthening exercise using an elastic band (n=40). The intervention was administered for 3 days/week, for 4 weeks to both groups. Progression was adjusted after 2 weeks, by increasing repetitions of exercises from 10 to 20. Outcome measures, including: surface Electromyography (EMG), pressure biofeedback and 7 stage sit-up test, were assessed pre and post-intervention. The analysis was performed with a 95% confidence interval. Results: Group A and B showed significant improvement (p-value<0.001) when analyzed individually for surface EMG, pressure biofeedback and 7-stage sit-up test. Group A showed more improvement in abdominal strength than group B in surface EMG (Mean Difference–Group A: 159.27+48.84 and Group B 126.32+39.96) and in 7-stage sit-up test (Mean Difference–Group A: 2.12+0.64 and Group B 1.67+0.57) as p-value<0.01. Pressure Biofeedback showed non-significant differences among the groups (p-value=0.2201). Conclusion: This study concludes that strengthening exercises using Vibrapole was more effective in increasing abdominal muscle strength than elastic band exercises. Hence Vibrapole can be used by physiotherapists as an effective tool to improve abdominal strength.