ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC COMPARISON OF THE UPPER AND LOWER RECTUS ABDOMINIS DURING ABDOMINAL EXERCISES

The purpose of this study was a comparative EMG analysis of three abdominal exercises in the activation of superior and inferior portions of rectus abdominis muscle. Young healthy adults (n=20) were analysed during the exercises by electromyography. All exercises were performed in a surface with 150 inclination. Two-Way Repeated Measures ANOVA was used to compare exercise and phase (conc. X exc.). Results shown that each portion was more active in inverse exercise with pelvic tilt, probably because it’s higher intensity. Intensity of exercise seems to be more important than variation in activate abdominal muscle.