Equipment to measure core muscle strength.

[bharatranjha]

Hi, I m a masters in sports PT student, I want to do my research work on effect of Pilates' exercises on core muscle strength, can anyone suggest me a reliable equipment for measuring core muscle strength, apart from pin prick EMG. actually we have only surface electrodes in our deptt.. So kindly suggest me a reliable way of measuring core strength. Thank You friends.

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[physiobob]

I think you are asking the wrong question. If you feel pilates is helping patients in some way, how do you think it is happening? Which exercises? Taught by who? Individual variance from therapist and patient would be huge so you'd either have to do a very general questionnaire here with a large sample size, OR, a small study that is very specific. The concept of core is purely that, a concept. It cannot specifically be measured as such. Llet's look at your question from different angles to work out what you really want to know here.

[D-light]

I think it will be quite difficult in real terms to measure core strenght. the concept of core looks at how functional stability can be achieved by a combination of forces one of which is muscle. measuring an individual muscle strenght would not be valid.

I think perhaps a function task can be set and calibrated pre trainning (pilates classes for a set time) and the level of individual achievements assesed (based on calibration.)

Just thinking about that, you can do a comparative study btw pilates and another form of exercise on a functional task that demonstrate core muscle effectiveness.