Endurance of low back musculature in high school athletes: a study of global and isolated low back stabilization exercises

Abstract

Selective muscle atrophy has been demonstrated in people with history of low back pain. Training of low back musculature has focused on global and isolated abdominal endurance. The purpose of our study was to investigate the most effective stabilization program to improve trunk musculature endurance in high school athletes due to the lack of research in this population. Our hypothesis states that there will be a significant difference between the intervention groups and the isolated group will show the greatest improvement. The participants consisted of thirty-nine high school students participating in one of three weight conditioning classes. Each class was randomly assigned into a control, global intervention, or isolated intervention group. Trunk endurance was tested prior to and after an eight week trunk exercise intervention. Results: There was no significant difference between the isolated and global trunk endurance groups and the control group. Further data analysis showed no significant difference in endurance times between age, time, or gender.