Kettlebell Swings and Paraspinal Muscle Function

The Immediate Effects of a Standardized Kettlebell Swing Protocol on Lumbar Paraspinal Muscle Function

The purpose of this randomized control trial is to determine the extent of muscle fatigue in the lumbar erector spinae musculature secondary to a high-intensity interval kettlebell swing protocol utilizing TMG previously published by Jay et. al in 2011.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Exercise Training
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Kettlebell swing

Detailed Description

Background: Kettlebell swings are commonly utilized to target the lumbar erector spinae and lower body musculature. This exercise exhibits distinct loading properties that requires cyclical contraction of the trunk extensors and posterior chain, potentially explaining its novel influence on muscle contractility. Tensiomyography (TMG) is a reliable, noninvasive, passive technique that may be used to examine muscular fatigue produced by kettlebell swings. Purpose: The purpose of this randomized control trial is to determine the extent of muscle fatigue in the lumbar erector spinae musculature secondary to a high-intensity interval kettlebell swing protocol utilizing TMG previously published by Jay et. al in 2011. Subjects: Forty-one adults between the ages of 18 and 45 were recruited. Inclusion criteria included subjects with no recent history of low back pain and clearance by the physical activity readiness questionnaire. Methods: Participants were randomly allocated to either a kettlebell swing group (KBS; n=21) or a control group (CON; n=20) who only performed the unloaded warm up. Participants were assessed at baseline, post-intervention, and 24-hours post-intervention for bilateral erector spinae fatigue, measured by five TMG parameters (Dm, Tc, Tr, Td, Ts).

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 41
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Florida
    • Orlando, Florida, United States, 32816
      • University of Central Florida

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Ages of 18 and 45 years of age.
• Clear PAR-Q

Exclusion Criteria:

• history of low back pain
• pre-existing injuries
• If "YES" was the response to any of the seven questions in the PAR-Q, the participant was deemed to be unable to exercise safely.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Rest; Subjects in the control group were instructed to complete the general warm up followed by a 10-minute rest period.
Experimental: Exercise; The intervention group completed two-handed Russian KBSs using an interval training protocol outlined by Jay et al.10 involving 30 seconds of work followed by 30 seconds of rest for 10 total intervals. Prior to completing the intervention, participants completed a general warmup consisting of 10 non-weighted squats, 10 non-weighted dead-lifts, and 10 dowel rod shoulder flexion repetitions. Participants were instructed to perform all warm-up activities at an intensity of 70% of maximal effort using a Rate of Perceived Exertion scale(RPE).	Other: Kettlebell swing; The intervention group completed two-handed Russian KBSs using an interval training protocol outlined by Jay et al.10 involving 30 seconds of work followed by 30 seconds of rest for 10 total intervals. Prior to completing the intervention, participants completed a general warmup consisting of 10 non-weighted squats, 10 non-weighted dead-lifts, and 10 dowel rod shoulder flexion repetitions. Participants were instructed to perform all warm-up activities at an intensity of 70% of maximal effort using a Rate of Perceived Exertion scale(RPE).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Tensiomyography	Research has progressed to support the test-retest and inter-rater reliability using TMG for measurement of muscle contraction. TMG demonstrates good to excellent relative reliability(0.80-0.99) and inter-rater ICC between 0.77-0.97 Across all five TMG parameters.4-7	Baseline, immediate after exercise, 24 hours after exercise

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Central Florida
• Investigators: Study Director: William J Hanney, PhD, University of Central Florida

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 4, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 8, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): January 15, 2023

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 25, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 29, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): October 5, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 5, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 29, 2023
• Last Verified: September 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 00001277

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No