TRX plank superior to normal plank

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galapogos
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TRX plank superior to normal plank

Post by galapogos »

The Effect of Using a Suspension Training System on Muscle Activation During the Performance of a Front Plank Exercise

The objective of the study was to examine the effect of suspension training on muscle activation during performance of variations of the plank exercise. Twenty-one participants took part. All individuals completed two repetitions each of four different plank exercises that consisted of a floor based plank, or planks with arms suspended, feet suspended, or feet and arms suspended using a TRX® Suspension System. During plank performance, muscle activation was recorded from rectus abdominis, external oblique, rectus femoris and serratus anterior muscles using electromyography. All planks were performed for a total of three seconds. Resulting muscle activation data was amplitude normalized and root mean square activation was then determined over the full three second duration of the exercise. A significant main effect of plank type was found for all muscles. Post-hoc analysis and effect size examination indicated that abdominal muscle activation was higher in all suspended conditions compared to the floor based plank. The highest level of abdominal muscle activation occurred in the arms suspended and arms/feet suspended conditions, which did not differ from one another. Rectus femoris activation was greatest during the arms suspended condition, while serratus anterior activity peaked during normal and feet suspended planks. These results indicate that suspension training as performed in the present study appears to be an effective means of increasing muscle activation during the plank exercise. Contrary to expectations, the additional instability created by suspending both the arms and feet did not result in any additional abdominal muscle activation. These findings have implications in prescription and progression of core muscle training programs.

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xarope
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Re: TRX plank superior to normal plank

Post by xarope »

isn't there a significant postural difference between the non and with TRX planks, in the pictures?!?

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galapogos
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Re: TRX plank superior to normal plank

Post by galapogos »

What difference do you see?

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