Abstract
It is assumed when lifting with the dominant hand that the relationship between contralateral and ipsilateral trunk muscle responses are similar to when lifting with the non-dominant hand. The purpose of this study was to quantify trunk muscle activation amplitude patterns during right- and left-handed lifts. Surface electromyography (EMG) and kinematic variables were recorded from 29 healthy subjects. Minimal trunk and pelvis motion was observed. Three principal patterns accounted for 95% of the variation in the EMG data indicating minimal variation in the pattern. Significant differences in scores captured different recruitment strategies for reach and hand. Selective and differential recruitment of back sites characterized lifts at greater distances from the body, whereas co-activation between internal oblique and back sites characterized lifts closer to the body. While the results showed no handedness effect for back muscles, the external oblique responded differently between right- and left-handed lifts. Specific recruitment strategies were used to account for subtle changes in reach and asymmetrical demands.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arjmand N, Shirazi-Adl A, Parnianpour M (2008) Relative efficiency of abdominal muscles in spine stability. Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Eng 11:291–299. doi:10.1080/10255840802020404
Bagesteiro LB, Sainburg RL (2002) Handedness: dominant arm advantages in control of limb dynamics. J Neurophysiol 88:2408–2421. doi:10.1152/jn.00901.2001
Baratta RV, Solomonow M, Zhou BH, Zhu M (1998) Methods to reduce the variability of EMG power spectrum estimates. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 8:279–285. doi:10.1016/S1050-6411(97)00031-X
Brouwer B, Sale MV, Nordstrom MA (2001) Asymmetry of motor cortex excitability during a simple motor task: relationships with handedness and manual performance. Exp Brain Res 138:467–476. doi:10.1007/s002210100730
Brown SH, Vera-Garcia FJ, McGill SM (2006) Effects of abdominal muscle coactivation on the externally preloaded trunk: variations in motor control and its effect on spine stability. Spine 31:E387–E393. doi:10.1097/01.brs.0000220221.57213.25
Burden A, Bartlett R (1999) Normalisation of EMG amplitude: an evaluation and comparison of old and new methods. Med Eng Phys 21:247–257. doi:10.1016/S1350-4533(99)00054-5
Butler HL, Hubley-Kozey CL, Kozey JW (2007a) Changes in trunk muscle activation and lumbar-pelvic position associated with abdominal hollowing and reach during a simulated manual material handling task. Ergonomics 50:410–425. doi:10.1080/00140130601128081
Butler HL, Newell R, Hubley-Kozey CL, Kozey JW (2007b) The interpretation of abdominal wall muscle recruitment strategies change when the electrocardiogram (ECG) is removed from the electromyogram (EMG). J Electromyogr Kinesiol. doi:10.1016/j.jelekin.2007.10.004
Butler HL, Hubley-Kozey CL, Kozey JW (2008) Electromyographic assessment of trunk muscle activation amplitudes during a simulated lifting task using pattern recognition techniques. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. doi:10.1016/j.jelekin.2008.09.010
Cholewicki J, McGill SM (1996) Mechanical stability of the in vivo lumbar spine: implications for injury and chronic low back pain. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 11:1–15. doi:10.1016/0268-0033(95)00035-6
Cholewicki J, IV VanVliet JJ (2002) Relative contribution of trunk muscles to the stability of the lumbar spine during isometric exertions. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 17:99–105. doi:10.1016/S0268-0033(01)00118-8
Cholewicki J, Panjabi MM, Khachatryan A (1997) Stabilizing function of trunk flexor–extensor muscles around a neutral spine posture. Spine 22:2207–2212. doi:10.1097/00007632-199710010-00003
Corey DM, Hurley MM, Foundas AL (2001) Right and left handedness defined: a multivariate approach using hand preference and hand performance measures. Neuropsychiatry Neuropsychol Behav Neurol 14:144–152
Dankaerts W, O’Sullivan PB, Burnett AF, Straker LM, Danneels LA (2004) Reliability of EMG measurements for trunk muscles during maximal and sub-maximal voluntary isometric contractions in healthy controls and CLBP patients. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 14:333–342. doi:10.1016/j.jelekin.2003.07.001
Danneels LA, Vanderstraeten GG, Cambier DC, Witvrouw EE, Stevens VK, De Cuyper HJ (2001) A functional subdivision of hip, abdominal, and back muscles during asymmetric lifting. Spine 26:E114–E121. doi:10.1097/00007632-200103150-00003
Danneels LA, Coorevits PL, Cools AM et al (2002) Differences in electromyographic activity in the multifidus muscle and the iliocostalis lumborum between healthy subjects and patients with sub-acute and chronic low back pain. Eur Spine J 11:13–19. doi:10.1007/s005860100314
Diederichsen LP, Norregaard J, Dyhre-Poulsen P et al (2007) The effect of handedness on electromyographic activity of human shoulder muscles during movement. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 17:410–419. doi:10.1016/j.jelekin.2006.03.004
Drake JD, Callaghan JP (2006) Elimination of electrocardiogram contamination from electromyogram signals: an evaluation of currently used removal techniques. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 16:175–187. doi:10.1016/j.jelekin.2005.07.003
Dumas GA, Poulin MJ, Roy B, Gagnon M, Jovanovic M (1991) Orientation and moment arms of some trunk muscles. Spine 16:293–303. doi:10.1097/00007632-199103000-00007
Farina D, Kallenberg LA, Merletti R, Hermens HJ (2003) Effect of side dominance on myoelectric manifestations of muscle fatigue in the human upper trapezius muscle. Eur J Appl Physiol 90:480–488. doi:10.1007/s00421-003-0905-4
Fuglevand AJ, Winter DA, Patla AE, Stashuk D (1992) Detection of motor unit action potentials with surface electrodes: influence of electrode size and spacing. Biol Cybern 67:143–153. doi:10.1007/BF00201021
Granata KP, Orishimo KF (2001) Response of trunk muscle coactivation to changes in spinal stability. J Biomech 34:1117–1123. doi:10.1016/S0021-9290(01)00081-1
Granata KP, Wilson SE (2001) Trunk posture and spinal stability. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 16:650–659. doi:10.1016/S0268-0033(01)00064-X
Granata KP, Orishimo KF, Sanford AH (2001) Trunk muscle coactivation in preparation for sudden load. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 11:247–254. doi:10.1016/S1050-6411(01)00003-7
Granata KP, Slota GP, Wilson SE (2004) Influence of fatigue in neuromuscular control of spinal stability. Hum Factors 46:81–91. doi:10.1518/hfes.46.1.81.30391
Granata KP, Rogers E, Moorhouse K (2005) Effects of static flexion–relaxation on paraspinal reflex behavior. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 20:16–24. doi:10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2004.09.001
Grenier SG, McGill SM (2007) Quantification of lumbar stability by using 2 different abdominal activation strategies. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 88:54–62. doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2006.10.014
Hodges PW, Moseley GL (2003) Pain and motor control of the lumbopelvic region: effect and possible mechanisms. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 13:361–370. doi:10.1016/S1050-6411(03)00042-7
Huang QM, Andersson E, Thorstensson A (2001) Intramuscular myoelectric activity and selective coactivation of trunk muscles during lateral flexion with and without load. Spine 26:1465–1472. doi:10.1097/00007632-200107010-00017
Huang QM, Andersson EA, Thorstensson A (2003) Specific phase related patterns of trunk muscle activation during lateral lifting and lowering. Acta Physiol Scand 178:41–50. doi:10.1046/j.1365-201X.2003.01115.x
Hubley-Kozey CL, Smits E (1998) Quantifying synergist activation patterns during maximal plantarflexion using an orthogonal expansion approach. Hum Mov Sci 17:347–365. doi:10.1016/S0167-9457(98)00004-9
Jackson JE (2003) A user’s guide to principal components. Wiley, Hoboken
Jonsson B (1970) The functions of individual muscles in the lumbar part of the spinae muscle. Electromyography 1:5–21
Kavcic N, Grenier S, McGill SM (2004) Determining the stabilizing role of individual torso muscles during rehabilitation exercises. Spine 29:1254–1265. doi:10.1097/00007632-200406010-00016
Knutson LM, Soderberg GL, Ballantyne BT, Clarke WR (1994) A study of various normalization procedures for within day electromyographic data. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 4:47–59. doi:10.1016/1050-6411(94)90026-4
MacDonald DA, Moseley GL, Hodges PW (2006) The lumbar multifidus: does the evidence support clinical beliefs? Man Ther 11:254–263. doi:10.1016/j.math.2006.02.004
Marras WS, Davis KG (1998) Spine loading during asymmetric lifting using one versus two hands. Ergonomics 41:817–834. doi:10.1080/001401398186667
Marras WS, Davis KG, Heaney CA, Maronitis AB, Allread WG (2000) The influence of psychosocial stress, gender, and personality on mechanical loading of the lumbar spine. Spine 25:3045–3054. doi:10.1097/00007632-200012010-00012
Marras WS, Jorgensen MJ, Granata KP, Wiand B (2001) Female and male trunk geometry: size and prediction of the spine loading trunk muscles derived from MRI. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 16:38–46. doi:10.1016/S0268-0033(00)00046-2
Marras WS, Davis KG, Jorgensen M (2002) Spine loading as a function of gender. Spine 27:2514–2520. doi:10.1097/01.BRS.0000031264.74555.1D; doi:10.1097/00007632-200211150-00017
McGill SM (1991) Electromyographic activity of the abdominal and low back musculature during the generation of isometric and dynamic axial trunk torque: implications for lumbar mechanics. J Orthop Res 9:91–103. doi:10.1002/jor.1100090112
McGill SM, Patt N, Norman RW (1988) Measurement of the trunk musculature of active males using CT scan radiography: implications for force and moment generating capacity about the L4/L5 joint. J Biomech 21:329–341. doi:10.1016/0021-9290(88)90262-X
McGill SM, Sharratt MT, Seguin JP (1995) Loads on spinal tissues during simultaneous lifting and ventilatory challenge. Ergonomics 38:1772–1792. doi:10.1080/00140139508925226
McGill S, Juker D, Kropf P (1996) Appropriately placed surface EMG electrodes reflect deep muscle activity (psoas, quadratus lumborum, abdominal wall) in the lumbar spine. J Biomech 29:1503–1507. doi:10.1016/0021-9290(96)84547-7
McNair PJ (1996) Verbal encouragement of voluntary muscle action: reply to commentary by Roger Eston. Br J Sports Med 30:365. doi:10.1136/bjsm.30.4.365-a
Merletti R (1999) Standards for reporting EMG data. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 9:III–IV
Merletti R, De Luca CJ, Sathyan D (1994) Electrically evoked myoelectric signals in back muscles: effect of side dominance. J Appl Physiol 77:2104–2114
Mirka G, Kelaher D, Baker A, Harrison A, Davis J (1997) Selective activation of the external oblique musculature during axial torque production. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 12:172–180. doi:10.1016/S0268-0033(97)00061-2
Moritani T (1996) Muscle energetics and electromyography. In: Kumar S, Mital A (eds) Electromyography in erognomics, 1st edn edn. Taylor and Francis, Bristol
Ng JK, Kippers V, Richardson CA (1998) Muscle fibre orientation of abdominal muscles and suggested surface EMG electrode positions. Electromyogr Clin Neurophysiol 38:51–58
Seroussi RE, Pope MH (1987) The relationship between trunk muscle electromyography and lifting moments in the sagittal and frontal planes. J Biomech 20:135–146. doi:10.1016/0021-9290(87)90305-8
Sung PS, Spratt KF, Wilder DG (2004) A possible methodological flaw in comparing dominant and nondominant sided lumbar spine muscle responses without simultaneously considering hand dominance. Spine 29:1914–1922. doi:10.1097/01.brs.0000137071.47606.19
Thelen DG, Schultz AB, Ashton-Miller JA (1995) Co-contraction of lumbar muscles during the development of time-varying triaxial moments. J Orthop Res 13:390–398. doi:10.1002/jor.1100130313
Vera-Garcia FJ, Brown SH, Gray JR, McGill SM (2006) Effects of different levels of torso coactivation on trunk muscular and kinematic responses to posteriorly applied sudden loads. Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon) 21:443–455. doi:10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2005.12.006
Vezina MJ, Hubley-Kozey CL (2000) Muscle activation in therapeutic exercises to improve trunk stability. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 81:1370–1379. doi:10.1053/apmr.2000.16349
Vink P, van der Velde A, Verbout AJ (1988) A functional subdivision of the lumbar extensor musculature: recruitment patterns and force—EMG relationships under isometric conditions. Electromyogr Clin Neurophysiol 28:517–525
Winter DA, Fuglevand AJ, Archer SE (1994) Crosstalk in surface electromyography: theoretical and practical estimates. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 4:15–26. doi:10.1016/1050-6411(94)90023-X
Zhou P, Lock B, Kuiken TA (2007) Real time ECG artifact removal for myoelectric prosthesis control. Physiol Meas 28:397–413. doi:10.1088/0967-3334/28/4/006
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support from The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation (NSHRF) and specialized assistance from J. Crouse, N. Hill, M. Abbott, J. Boulay and C. Cameron.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Butler, H.L., Hubley-Kozey, C.L. & Kozey, J.W. Activation amplitude patterns do not change for back muscles but are altered for abdominal muscles between dominant and non-dominant hands during one-handed lifts. Eur J Appl Physiol 106, 95–104 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-009-0994-9
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-009-0994-9