Comparison of Upper-Limb Muscle Activation Levels in Different Physical Fitness Exercises Using Dumbbells and Elastic Tubes.

Background: Elastic tubes are used widely in fitness programs because they are lightweight, easy to use, and versatile. However, evidence of their equivalence to other equipment, including dumbbells, remains insufficient.

Hypothesis: Elastic tubing and dumbbells do not have equivalent loads, although both equipment generate similar symmetry and muscular synergy.

Study design: Cross-sectional study.

Level of evidence: Level 2b.

Methods: Thirty physically active people (15 men and 15 women) performed 4 upper-limb exercises (elbow flexion, shoulder abduction, scapular elevation and abduction, and scapular retraction and abduction) with 5 loads (dumbbells ranging from 2 to 6 kg and red, green, blue, black, and silver elastic tubes).

Results: Only elbow flexion (P = 0.14 and P ≥ 0.99) and shoulder abduction (P = 0.13 and P ≥ 0.99) exercises showed load equivalence in men but not in women. Both types of equipment were symmetrical and generated similar synergies when the load was increased, with no sex differences (P = 0.11). Load equivalence was found only in men and in the 2 exercises, suggesting that this equipment was not interchangeable.

Conclusion: Dumbbell and elastic tube exercises can be executed in a balanced and symmetrical manner, yielding similar synergies considering the involvement of all muscle groups regardless of sex.

Clinical relevance: This study analyzed a higher number of exercises performed by both men and women. The results showed that these 2 pieces of equipment cannot be considered interchangeable, as they generate different loads. However, similar efforts are required for symmetry and muscle synergy.