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High-intensity progressive resistance exercise improves lumbar extensor strength, endurance
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SAN FRANCISCO — Lumbar extensor high-intensity progressive resistance exercise may be more effective than core stability exercises to improve core lumbar extension muscular strength in active-duty soldiers, according to data presented here.
“High-intensity training for lumbar extensor results in significant improvements in isometric strength and endurance compared to floor exercise,” John M. Mayer, DC, PhD, said at the North American Spine Society Annual Meeting.
John M. Mayer
Mayer and colleagues performed a mixed-method, cluster-randomized, controlled trial of 592 active-duty U.S. Army soldiers from 12 platoons. The soldiers were randomly assigned by platoon to receive either lumbar extension high-intensity progressive resistance exercise (HIPRE) using specialized equipment or floor-based core stabilization exercise.
The researchers assessed the isometric lumbar extension in more than 72° of motion in the sagittal plane with a lumbar dynamometer both before and after the study period. They also assessed core muscle endurance by the prone plant test.
Both groups of soldiers completed a mean of 9.9 exercise sessions. Overall, 77% of the soldiers completed follow-up assessments by the time of the 11-week follow-up. Both groups showed significant improvement in lumbar extension strength. However, the adjusted lumbar extension strength was 9.7% greater for the HIPRE group and the adjusted lumbar extension endurance was 12.3% greater for the HIPRE group, according to Mayer.
Soldiers in the HIPRE group had larger gains in lumbar extension strength at more extended positions of measurements compared with more flexed positions. There was no improvement in core muscular endurance in either group.
Mayer said future research is needed to compare lumbar extensor HIPRE training to other approaches, as well as to test how HIPRE training may benefit high-risk civilian populations and the most highly active military populations. — by Kristine Houck, MA, ELS
Reference:
Mayer JM. Paper #95. Presented at: North American Spine Society Annual Meeting. Nov. 12-15, 2014; San Francisco.
Disclosure: The study was sponsored by the Department of Defense, and MedX donated the exercise testing and training equipment used in the study.