This study looked at the supine trunk hold as a potential new trunk flexor endurance test. This test is currently used by the British Sailing Team, despite no current research to support it, so this study compared it to an existing trunk flexor endurance test. Twenty elite British sailors from various Olympic sailing classes volunteered. EMG analysis of upper and lower rectus abdominus, external obliques, and latissimus dorsi was looked at unilaterally. Maximal
EMG analysis of trunk flexors 3
voluntary contractions were obtained for each muscle, followed by a 30 second hold in each test position, separated by two minutes rest. EMG values were normalised to % MVC and smoothed as an integrated value. A significance level of p 0.05 was used. Upper and lower rectus had a significantly higher % MVC during the 45° hold compared to the supine hold. The iEMG value was significantly higher for all four muscles during the supine trunk hold. Although the 45° hold achieves higher peak activation, the supine hold had a higher total activation, suggesting it would be a better test of trunk flexor endurance. The effect sizes indicate the results are practically important, so the supine hold is a suitable test of trunk flexor endurance.