The effect of verbal reinforcement on the electromyographic activity of the rectus femoris and biceps femoris muscles during the execution of the traditional front plank exercise

Tamiris Beppler Martins, Ana Costa Miguel, Tais Costella, Taís Beppler Martins, Rodrigo Okubo5 Iramar Baptistella do Nascimento, Luis Mochizuki, Gilmar Moraes Santos

Abstract

Despite the growing number of practitioners of the traditional front plank (TFP) in the clinical setting, no studies were found on the effects of verbal reinforcement (VR) in this exercise. The objective of the study was to analyze the effect of VR on the electromyographic activity of the rectus femoris and biceps femoris muscles during the performance of the TFP exercise. In the method, physically active men and women underwent assessment of muscle electrical activity using Noraxon's TeleMyo Clinical receiver. The electromyographic activity of the rectum and biceps femoris was measured in two conditions, with and without VR. As a result, 20 women and 10 men (showed that the TFP execution time when VR was used was longer compared to the condition without VR. There was a significant increase in the electromyographic activity of the biceps femoris in the condition with VR. These findings indicate that the use of VR has a positive impact on TFP exercise performance. This suggests that this type of strategy can contribute to increasing muscular activity, preventing injuries and promoting functional rehabilitation and, therefore, should be incorporated into clinical interventions.

Keywords: Physical Exercise. Electromyography. Verbal Reinforcement.