A Preliminary Study on the Equivalence between Standing Back-Extension and Superman Training in Lumbar Multifidus Exercise

OBJECTIVE: To explore the equivalence of an easier and more convenient lumbar multifidus (LM) muscle exercise pattern among standing back-extension, static standing, and superman training. METHODS: A total of 26 healthy young volunteers were enrolled, including 14 males and 12 females, aged from 22 to 44 years with an average of 31.77 ± 7.06 years. Ultrasonography was used to measure the thickness of the left LM of the transverse process of the L5 vertebra during static standing, static prone decubitus, standing back-extension, and prone superman training. In this study, measurement data were expressed as Mean ± SD and compared using the t-test. RESULTS: The left LM thickness of the L5 vertebra was 2.92 ± 0.46 cm during static standing and 2.78 ± 0.39 cm during static prone decubitus, showing no statistical difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). The left LM thickness of the L5 vertebra was 3.16 ± 0.51 cm during standing back-extension and 3.33 ± 0.41 cm during the prone superman training, indicating no statistical difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There is no significant statistical difference in the LM thickness between static standing and static prone decubitus and between standing back-extension and prone superman training, indicating the equivalence of the two methods in LM exercise, providing a simpler and easier way for clinical exercise of lumbodorsal muscles.