SPINAL MUSCLE TENSION DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STANDING ON HARD FLOOR AND STANDING ON THE ANTI-FATIGUE MAT, WEARING 3CM HIGH HEEL SHOES

Objectives. This study focuses on comparing tension of spinal muscle m.erectors spinae longissimus bilateraly between standing on anti-fatigue mat and hard floor while wearing shoes with 3cm high heel. Materials and methods. We tested ten healthy young participants, while standing for 10 minutes on hard floor and anti-fatigue mat each and wearing 3cm heel shoes. During these 10 minutes they were typing text on a computer standing on desk in front of them. Muscle tension in period of 1 minute from every take was measured. Muscles measured were m.erector spinae longissimus (MESL) bilateraly. Subjects were tested using surface electromyography with wireless electrodes (BTS FREEMG 1000, BTS bioengineering), and manufacturer-provided signal processing computer program. 10-second period with the smoothest measurement were analysed using Microsoft Excel and the SPSS statistics 26 program. Results. The higher voltage in the muscles was observed while standing on the anti-fatigue mat. The effect was similar in both sides of MESL. Left MESL median on the floor was 8.89 V (interquartile range Q1-Q3 was 5.79-10.87), but on the mat it was 10.49 V (interquartile range Q1-Q3 was 8.18-12.88). Right MESL median on the on floor was 7.82 V (interquartile range Q1-Q3 was 7.18-17.63), but on the mat it was 10.86 V (9.49-23.90). Significance was found between standing conditions in both left MESL (p=0.005) and right MESL (p=0.005). Conclusions. The study verified that m.erector spinae longissimus had significant response to the anti-fatigue mat. Electrical activity was released more prominently when standing on the anti-fatigue mat in comparison to standing on hard floor. The uneven surface of antifatigue-mat may be causing micromovements in order to gain stability. This way more micromovements are provoked causing improvement of spinal muscle microcirculation and nutrition flow and reducing fatigue.