No. 11, pp. 78–80

Received: 20.08.2026 | Published: 23.10.2026

CC BY 4.0

Abstract

Objective of the study is to reveal the patterns of the activation of the trunk muscles in the performance of stabilisation exercises in students with chronic non-specific lower back pain (CNLBP) and to assess the effectiveness of a 6-week programme of stabilisation exercises in the process of physical education. Methods and structure of the study. 40 students of the K.A. Timiryazev RSAU-MAA (aged 18-22) with CNLBP took part in the scientific work: an experimental group (EG, n = 20) and a control group (CG, n = 20). Surface EMG was recorded from four trunk muscles during the performance of five stabilisation exercises. The function of the transverse abdominal muscle was assessed by the method of ultrasound visualisation. Results and conclusions. In the students of both groups, disturbances of the activation patterns were revealed: a decrease of the activity of the local stabilisers (of the internal oblique muscle by 18-32% in comparison with the normative values) and an excessive co-activation of the superficial extensors of the back. After the 6-week programme, in the EG the activity of the internal oblique muscle increased by 21.4% (p<0.01), the excessive activation of the extensors of the back decreased by 14.7% (p<0.05), the intensity of pain according to the VAS decreased from 4.8 to 1.9 points (p<0.001), and the Oswestry index – from 22.6 to 8.4% (p<0.001). In the CG, no statistically significant changes were recorded.

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