Comparison of the Performance of the Selected Local and Global Core Stability Area Muscles and Changes in the Center of Pressure During Gait with Focus on Body Types

Although it is documented thatmuscle activities is influenced by individual characteristics, such as body type, the purpose of the present study was to compare selected local and global core stability muscles and center of pressure changes during gait in young able-bodied males with emphasis on body type.

A total of 30 young males (age: 26.1±2.5 years old, height: 185.5±4.6 centimeters, and weight: 99.8±1.6 kg; mesomorph: 26.3±2.7 years old, 179.8±8.3 centimeters, and 84.2±8.2 kg; ectomorph: 24.3±2.7 years old, 183.0±4.6 centimeters, and 63.2±4.9 kg) participated in the present study and were placed into three groups with respect to their somatotype. The local and global core stability muscles activities were recorded using MYON electromyography and center of pressure changes using two force plates during gait. To compare between muscle activities (RMS indices, duration of electrical activity) as well as center of pressure changes with emphasis on three body types, ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey were run at the significance level of p < 0.05.

The results showed a significant difference in the RMS of the internal and external oblique global muscles. The percentage of RMS for endomorph participants in all local and global muscles was higher than those of mesomorph and ectomorph body types during gait. There was also a significant difference in the duration of electrical activity in the multifidus and longissimus local muscles and internal oblique global muscle in all three body types during gait. The duration of electrical activity in the multifidus, longissimus, and internal oblique muscles was higher in individuals with endomorph body type. The center of pressure changes was also greater for the endomorphic body type, though there was no significant difference between the body types.

According to the findings of the curent study, it can be claimed that body type affects the pattern of local and global muscle performance of core stability area and changes in the center of pressure during gait.