The effect of anti-movement exercises on muscle activation and some selected performance parameters

Aim: Although it is stated that the anti-movement practices can protect the spine, their effects are unknown in terms of muscular activation patterns and performance tests. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the effects of anti-movement exercise practices on muscle activation, trunk endurance and some selected performance parameters. Material and Method: A total of 36 male participants were included in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to groups as anti-movement, dynamic movement, and control and included in the training process consisting of 12 units (6 weeks x 2 days). Trunk endurance test times, field-performance test scores, median frequency and muscle activation values applied before and after training were evaluated using two-way repeated analysis of variance. Results: After training sessions, a greater change in favor of anti-movement was observed in all of the flexor and extensor group muscles in terms of the need for motor unit participation (between d = 0.72 and 1.78; p <0.001). When the median frequency values were examined for fatigue, similar effects were found in favor of anti-movement in the flexor muscles and in both exercise groups in the extensor muscles. A significant change was detected in favor of the anti-movement group in the time-dependent change values of 20 m sprint performance (d = 1.30; p <0.05). There were statistically significant differences in favor of both exercise groups in the time-dependent values of all trunk endurance test scores (p<0.001). Conclusion: The reduction in motor unit recruitment is considered to be an important strategy in terms of efficiency of the movement and energy consumption. It can be stated that this decrease, which changes in favor of anti-movement, may be related to the training of deep muscles. It can be said that proper structured scientific studies are needed to understand the interaction between functional performance scores and core training.