Avaliação da atividade eletromiográfica de músculos do core no exercício prancha ventral até a exaustão com e sem exergame plankpad

Abstract

Core training plays an important role in quality of life, especially in reducing the prevalence of low back pain. Recently, exergames such as Plankpad have been developed to improve adherence to physical training and rehabilitation programs focused on core muscle strengthening. However, no studies have analyzed electromyographic (EMG) activity during the ventral plank (VP) exercise with and without exergame, including time-domain and frequency-domain analysis as well as muscle co-contraction. This study aimed to investigate the effects of incorporating the Plankpad exergame on core muscle EMG activity during the VP exercise until exhaustion. Fifteen young, healthy, physically active men with no history of low back pain participated. Participants performed the VP exercise until exhaustion under five conditions: stable ground (VP-GR), Plankpad platform without game (VP-PP), and Plankpad platform with the Fruit Splicer game at easy (VP-EA), medium (VP-ME), and hard (VP-HA) levels. EMG signals were collected from the rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO), erector spinae (ES), and multifidus (MU) muscles, along with time to exhaustion and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Results showed progressive increases in RMS and decreases in median frequency (MF) over time in all exercises, indicating peripheral neuromuscular fatigue, with no significant differences among the five conditions for most parameters. Local co-contraction (IO/MU) was significantly higher in VP-PP compared to VP EA and decreased with fatigue across all exercises. Time to exhaustion and RPE were similar among conditions. Correlations between RPE and EMG parameters were weak to moderate. We conclude that the Plankpad exergame, at easy, medium, and hard levels, does not increase electromyographic activation, spectral fatigue, time to exhaustion, or RPE compared to traditional plank exercise in young healthy trained men.