The Effects of Curl-up Exercise with XCO on Trunk Muscle Activation in Healthy Adults

ABSTRACT

Purpose@#This study examined the effects of curl-up using XCO® on trunk muscle activation in healthy adults. @*Methods@#This study design was a single-blind randomized controlled trial. Twelve participants were enrolled in this study. The subjects were instructed to perform curl-up exercise in STCU (straight curl-up), LTCU (left twist curl-up), RTCU (right twist curl-up), TWCU (twist curl-up), and PPCU (power push curl-up). Electromyography was used to assess the percent maximal voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC) of the rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO), and erector spinae (ES) muscles. The data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA with a repeated measure. The statistical significance level was set to α=0.05 @*Results@#The IO showed significant differences in the main effect of the group and the interactions between the group and exercise (p0.05). The RA, IO, and EO showed significant differences in the main effect of the group (p<0.05). The EO showed a significant difference in the main effect of exercise (p<0.05). @*Conclusion@#These findings suggest that XCO® can be used to increase the muscle activation of the internal oblique, which is the lumbar stabilizing muscle, when XCO® is combined in the curl-up exercise with rotation. In the future, research on the intensity, frequency, and duration of XCO® exercise will be needed according to the individual characteristics and preferences.