Isometric Core Muscle Endurance in Healthy Active and Non-active Working Age Populations
Isometric Core Muscle Endurance in Healthy Active and Non-active Working Age Populations
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate a possible correlation between core
 muscle endurance and participants' age in healthy adult population. Secondary purpose was to
 identify other dependent variables influencing isometric core muscle endurance (e.g. low back
 pain, physical activity, gender, body mass index).

 Methods: 48 (35 females, 13 males) healthy adults (aged 21-66 years) performed 4 isometric
 core muscle endurance tests- Biering-Sorensen, McGill V-sit, right and left side plank. A
 correlation between core endurance and age, gender, lower back pain (LBP), physical activity
 level (PAL), and body mass index (BMI) was calculated.
This is the first study to investigate the core muscle endurance of different age groups and
 genders with all four endurance tests of the core.

 Since strength and endurance are key to keeping healthy as we age and National Institute for
 Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and European guidelines advocate them, this study aims to
 look at the 3 main measurements of core endurance namely flexor, extensor and lateral
 muscles, and the possible correlations with age, PAL, existence of LBP, BMI and gender. Each
 participant performed 4 isometric core endurance tests in the same order- 1.
 Biering-Sorensen, 2.-3. side plank on both sides, and 4. McGill V-sit. All participants were
 tested by the same tester to reduce potential differences in procedure and testing error. The
 four tests were each measured using a stopwatch and documented in seconds. Each participant
 was told the time they had reached during testing to improve their motivation. Pain during
 testing was documented.

 Based on the normative data of abdominal muscle endurance for young adults Null hypothesis
 (H0)- There is no significant difference in endurance tests for age, presence of LBP or PAL.
 Hypothesis (H1)- Any significant difference in endurance tests for age, presence of LBP or
 PAL are due to chance factors. This is a two-tailed hypothesis, as previous evidence shows
 conflicting results. Pearson's correlation and Independent T-test in SPSS (The Statistical
 Package for the Social Sciences) were used to confirm or reject the possible correlations
 between the core muscle endurance and age, LBP, PAL, gender, BMI, and participants' job.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  aged 20-70 (working age population)

 -  healthy

 -  active and non-active

 -  with or without non-specific lower back pain

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  all serious pathologies and diagnosis that could affect the ability to perform the
 tests safely including acute pain, neurological, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular
 diseases, spinal pathologies (e.g. spondylitis, acute herniated disc, cauda equina,
 hypertension, epilepsy, tumour, previous fracture or surgery in trunk, structured
 deformity, osteoporosis)

 -  sudden change in health

 -  personal reasons

 -  severe pain during testing

 -  competing in any sports higher than amateur level