Assessment of global abdominal muscle strength and core muscle stability in yoga practitioners between 35-45 years of age: a cross-sectional study

Authors

  • Ashwini Kamble Department of Physiotherapy, DES Brijlal Jindal College of Physiotherapy, Pune, Maharashtra, India
  • Parag Ranade Department of Physiotherapy, Smt. Kashibai Navale College of Physiotherapy, Pune, Maharashtra, India
  • Bhavana Mhatre Department of Physiotherapy, PT School and Centre, Seth GS Medical College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20262341

Keywords:

Yoga, Global muscle, Biofeedback, Core stability

Abstract

Background: The abdominal wall muscles can be broadly categorized into superficial (global) muscles and deep (local) muscles. Although both components work synergistically. Yoga is a widely practiced intervention that incorporates sustained postures (asanas), dynamic transitions, and isometric contractions. These elements engage both superficial and deep abdominal muscles. This study aims to assess and compare global abdominal muscle strength and core muscle stability in yoga practitioners to better understand their functional relationship.

Methods: We included 70 yoga practitioners from age 35-45 years in our observational cross-sectional study from various yoga centre and community settings. Outcome measures used for assessing core strength was manual muscle testing (MMT) through curl up performance whereas stability was check using pressure biofeedback.

Results: The sample comprised 70 yoga practitioners aged 35-45 years (mean age 40.2 years) with a female predominance (70%). The average BMI was 25.2 kg/m². Participants demonstrated higher global abdominal muscle strength (median grade 4), while core stability was moderate (median level 2).

Conclusions: Higher strength grades showing better stability performance. Therefore, assessment and training programs should include both global strengthening and specific deep core stabilization to achieve comprehensive trunk muscle function.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Tran MD, Holly RG, Lashbrook J, Amsterdam EA. Effects of Hatha yoga practice on the health-related aspects of physical fitness. Prev Cardiol. 2001;4(4):165-70. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1520-037X.2001.00542.x

Cowen VS, Adams TB. Physical and perceptual benefits of yoga asana practice: Results of a pilot study. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2005;9(3):211-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2004.08.001

Panjabi MM. The stabilizing system of the spine. Part I. Function, dysfunction, adaptation, and enhancement. J Spinal Disord. 1992;5(4):383-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/00002517-199212000-00001

Hodges PW, Richardson CA. Inefficient muscular stabilization of the lumbar spine associated with low back pain. Spine. 1996;21(22):2640-50. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/00007632-199611150-00014

Richardson CA, Jull GA, Hodges PW, Hides JA. Therapeutic Exercise for Spinal Segmental Stabilization in Low Back Pain. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone; 1999.

Kendall FP, McCreary EK, Provance PG, Rodgers MM, Romani WA. Muscles: Testing and Function with Posture and Pain. 5th ed. Baltimore: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2005.

Von Garnier K, Köveker K, Rackwitz B, Kober U, Wilke S, Ewert T, et al. Reliability of a test measuring transversus abdominis recruitment with a pressure biofeedback unit. Physiotherapy. 2009;95(1):8-14. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2008.10.003

Shiraishi JC, Bezerra LMA. Effects of yoga practice on muscular endurance in young women. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2016;22:69-73. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2015.12.007

Desai R, Rathi M, Agrawal P, Palekar TJ. Core stabilization exercises versus yoga on feedforward activation of core muscles in chronic mechanical low back pain: An experimental study. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2024;40:203-10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2024.03.056

Ni M, Mooney K, Harriell K, Balachandran A, Signorile J. Core muscle function during specific yoga poses. Complement Ther Med. 2014;22(2):235-43. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2014.01.007

Rathore M, Trivedi S, Abraham J, Sinha MB. Anatomical Correlation of Core Muscle Activation in Different Yogic Postures. Int J Yoga. 2017;10(2):59-66. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/0973-6131.205515

Lee K. Effects of core stability training on deep stabilizing muscle function and neuromuscular control. Medicina (Kaunas). 2025;61(3):364. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61030364

Petrič M, Zaletel-Kragelj L, Jakovljević M, Vauhnik R. Hatha yoga, integrating the segmental stabilization exercise model, can improve trunk muscle endurance in healthy adults. Front Public Health. 2024;12:1487702. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1487702

Karthikeyan T, Singh S, Ravi S, Hardaha S, Nimonkar S, Gautam V, et al. Yoga versus core stabilization exercise: A physiotherapeutic approach to managing mechanical low back pain. Int Clinc Med Case Rep Jour. 2025;4(6):1-10

Crasto CFB, Montes, AM, Carvalho, P, Carral, JMC. Pressure biofeedback unit to assess and train lumbopelvic stability in supine individuals with chronic low back pain. J Phys Ther Sci. 2019;31(10):755-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1589/jpts.31.755

Chan EWM, Hamid MSA, Nadzalan AM, Hafiz E. Abdominal muscle activation: An EMG study of the Sahrmann five-level core stability test. Hong Kong Physiother J. 2020;40(2):89-97. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1142/S1013702520500080

Bergmark A. Stability of the lumbar spine. A study in mechanical engineering. Acta Orthop Scand Suppl. 1989;60(230):1-54. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3109/17453678909154177

Purohit S. Effect of yoga program on minimum muscular fitness of orphan adolescents by using Kraus-Weber test: a randomized wait-list controlled study. Indian J Posit Psychol. 2015;6:389-92.

Lau C, Yu R, Woo J. Effects of a 12-week Hatha yoga intervention on cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength and endurance, and flexibility in Hong Kong Chinese adults: A controlled clinical trial. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2015;2015:958727. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/958727

Omkar SN, Vishwas S. Yoga techniques as a means of core stability training. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2009;13(1):98-103. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2007.10.004

Downloads

Published

2026-07-10

How to Cite

Kamble, A., Ranade, P., & Mhatre, B. (2026). Assessment of global abdominal muscle strength and core muscle stability in yoga practitioners between 35-45 years of age: a cross-sectional study. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20262341

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles