The influences of position and forced respiratory maneuvers on spinal stability muscles

[Purpose] The purposes of this study were to investigate the influences of position on%MVIC of spinal stability muscles to establish for the most effective breathing patternfor activation of spinal stability muscles in order to provide an additional treatmentmethod for use in spinal stability exercise programs. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty-threehealthy subjects performed quiet breathing and four different forced respiratory maneuvers(FRM); [pursed lip breathing (PLB), diaphragmatic breathing (DB), combination breathing(CB) and respiration muscle endurance training (RMET)] in both standing and sittingpositions. %MVIC of them (the multifidus (MF), erector spinae (ES), internaloblique/transversus abdominis (IO/TrA), external oblique (EO), rectus abdominis (RA)measured. [Results] IO/TrA, MF and EO showed greater activation in standing than insitting, while RA and ES showed greater activation in sitting than in standing. RMETinduced significantly greater activation of spinal stability muscles then other breathingpatterns. %MVIC changes of muscle activities induced by FRM were independent of positionwith a few exceptions. [Conclusion] The increased respiratory demands of FRM inducedgreater activation of spinal stability muscles than QB. RMET was found to be the mosteffective breathing pattern for increasing the activation of the spinal stabilitymuscles.Key words: Spinal stability muscles, Position, Forced respiratory maneuvers