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Highlights
● Shift from stable to unstable position (using Swiss ball) does not change the level of deep core muscles’ activity in women athletes
● It seems that exercising at each stable and unstable position may have not additional effects on the core muscles.
Plain Language Summary
The body core refers to the total of muscles and lumbopelvic region structures including the lumbar spine, pelvic cavity, and hip joint. The body core resembles a box that the abdominal muscles lie in front of it; the gluteal and para-spinal muscles are in the back; the respiratory diaphragm is located on the top, and the pelvic floor muscles are located in the floor. This area has particular importance in sports because it provides proximal stability for distal mobility. One of the theories about the “core stability” exercises is the use of unstable surfaces in exercises. It has been suggested that decreasing stability during the core stability exercises (such as plank) may be associated with increased lumbosacral muscles activity. This study set to answer to the question whether the ultrasonographic activity of the lumbopelvic muscles in plank on stable and unstable surfaces differs or not? The current research aimed to ultrasonographically compare core muscles activity in front and side plank movements on stable (floor) and unstable (Swiss ball) surfaces. Results indicated that use of Swiss ball, as an unstable surface, cannot result in significant differences in level of activity of the core muscles in two plank movements. Therefore, simple plank and plank on Swiss ball movements can be posssibly used for strengthening abdominal muscles and generally trunk muscles. However, these two positions probably activate or strengthen these muscles in the same way.