CÃntia L. Nahhas Rodacki, André Luiz Felix Rodacki, Carlos Ugrinowitsch, Diego Zielinski and Rafael Budal da Costa
The purpose of this study was to identify if abdominal exercises may produce acute spinal unloading compared to a known unloading position. Nine subjects performed a loading protocol and an unloading protocol on three experimental sessions. The loading protocol consisted of three sets of military press, while three unloading protocols were: three sets of regular abdominal exercises, three sets of abdominal exercises performed in an inclined board or an unloading resting posture. Abdominal exercises showed a greater recovery in comparison to the resting position, although no significant differences were found between abdominal exercises in stature recovery.
Abdominal exercises may be introduced between sets of resistance training to decrease the negative effect of compressive forces imposed during such highly stressing activities. Further studies are required to confirm the proposed underlying mechanisms.
Clinical Biomechanics,