Trunk muscle strength in women with overweight or obesity

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of overweight or obesity on trunk muscle strength in women, aged 30 – 50 years. Fifty females were separated into two groups. The first group was overweight or obese women (n=30), and the second group was with normal weight women (n=20). Subjects with symptomatic of low back pain or any serious health problems during test were excluded. The hand-held dynamometer was used to measure three trials of isometric back and abdominal muscles strength. The best strength value was used to compare between groups. The results showed that both back and abdominal relative muscle strength in overweight or obesity group were significant decrease compared to those in normal weight groups. Moreover, the trunk muscle strength is negative correlated to body weight. This study indicated that trunk muscle strength in women with overweight or obesity tends to reduce. Thus, the exercise program for trunk muscles should be performed earlier in obesity to prevent low back pain in the future.