Shoulder and arm muscle activity during elastic band exercises performed in a hospital bed. Issue 2 (3rd April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Skals, Sebastian; Vinstrup, Jonas; Sundstrup, Emil; Jakobsen, Markus D.; Andersen, Christoffer H.; Andersen, Lars L.
• Is Part Of: Physician and sportsmedicine. Volume 46:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 233
• Page End: 241
• Publication Date: 2018-04-03
• Subjects: Bed rest -- strength training -- rehabilitation -- muscle atrophy -- elastic resistance -- electromyography; Sports medicine -- Periodicals; Sports Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine du sport -- Périodiques; Sports medicine; Sportgeneeskunde; Periodicals; 617.1027
• DOI: 10.1080/00913847.2018.1441580
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0091-3847

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Objective : Muscle atrophy is a common side-effect of bed rest during hospitalization. However, resistance training may minimize or even prevent these complications. Therefore, we evaluated the efficiency of four upper-body elastic resistance exercises that could be performed while lying or sitting in a hospital bed. Methods : Twenty-two healthy subjects performed three repetitions of each exercise in a supine and seated position with a perceived intensity of 3 (low) and 8 (high) on the Borg CR10 Scale. Surface electromyography was collected from 12 shoulder and arm muscles (e.g. trapezius, deltoideus, and biceps brachii), and normalized to a maximal voluntary isometric contraction (nEMG). Results : During all exercises performed at high intensity, moderate (>40%) to high (>60%) levels of nEMG were found for the majority of the analysed muscles, e.g. deltoideus (from 37% to 69%, median 57.5%), trapezius (from 43% to 66%, median 51%), and infraspinatus (from 54% to 66%, median 59%), with the exception of pectoralis major (from 29% to 47%, median 39.5%) and latissimus dorsi (from 15% to 22%, median 18.5%). No significant differences were found between the supine and seated positions for any of the exercises. Conclusion : This study showed that high levels of shoulder and arm muscle activity can be achieved while lying or sitting in a hospital bed using appropriate exercises with elastic bands. The data presented here can be used by physiotherapists as a guideline for selecting suitable and effective strengthening exercises during in-hospital rehabilitation to counteract bed-rest related muscle atrophy in the upper body.