本研究は,ストレッチポール®を使用したエクササイズによる腰背部筋での筋硬度,筋放電量の変化を明らかにすることを目的とした.対象は,腰痛を有しない若年成人15名(男性5名,女性10名,年齢22.5±1.5歳)とし,ストレッチポール®を使用したエクササイズの基本となるベーシックセブンを実施した.エクササイズの前後に,立位にて触覚センサーおよび表面筋電計を用いて第10胸椎(Th10)と第3腰椎(L3)レベルでの左右脊柱起立筋の筋硬度および筋放電量を測定した.その結果は,各レベルの左右別ではエクササイズにより筋硬度,筋放電量ともに有意な変化は認められなかったが,筋硬度の左右差の絶対値がTh10レベルにおいて有意に減少した(p<0.025).この結果より,ストレッチポール®エクササイズの基本となるベーシックセブン法はTh10の高さの脊柱起立筋の筋硬度の左右差に影響することが明らかとなった.

The purpose of this study was to understand alterations of muscle stiffness and muscle activity in the dorsolumbar muscle quantitatively by exercising with a Stretch Pole®. The subjects were fifteen healthy adults (5 men and 10 women) who did not have low back pain. The Basic Seven exercise with the Stretch Pole® was applied as an exercise protocol. We measured the muscle stiffness and muscle activity of the bilateral elector spinae at the height of the tenth thoracic vertebra and third lumbar vertebra to make a comparison before and after exercise with the Stretch Pole® using a tactile sensor and surface electromyography on standing. The results of this study showed that there were no significant differences between muscle stiffness and muscle activity on each side of elector spinae at either height, when we made a comparison before and after exercise with the Stretch Pole®. However, there were significant differences of absolute right and left muscle stiffness in the elector spinae at the height of the tenth thoracic vertebra (p<0.025). It is suggested that right and left differences of muscle stiffness in the elector spinae at the height of the tenth thoracic vertebra were influenced by the Basic Seven which were the basis of exercise with the Stretch Pole®.