The effect of Weight-bearing Exercise for Better Balance (WEBB) by telerehabilitation on tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius muscles activation in obese men

Weight-bearing Exercise for Better Balance (WEBB) is an exercise method to improve balance and leg muscle strength. It was previously shown that WEBB has a significant effect on balance and lower extremity muscle strength, however, there is no scientific evidence of the WEBB program’s effect on muscle activation. This study examines the effect of the Weight-Bearing Exercise for Better Balance (WEBB) program by telerehabilitation on the activation of the Tibialis anterior (TA) and Gastrocnemius medialis (GM) muscles in obese men. To the best authors’ knowledge, this research is the first study conducted to provide a WEBB program intervention by telerehabilitation. 10 healthy men with grade 2 obesity (BMI≥30 kg/cm2) participated in this study and received a telerehabilitation WEBB program intervention for 8 weeks. GM and TA muscle activation are assessed by looking at the amplitude value and amplitude normalization of the muscle Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contraction (%MVIC) when performing closed eyes One Leg Stance (OLS) test through recording with sEMG examination. This study found that there was a significant effect on the amplitude value of the right GM (p=0,040) and %MVIC of the left TA (p=0,037) muscles after 8 weeks WEBB program by telerehabilitation. In conclusion, telerehabilitation WEBB program can improve muscle activation in healthy men with obesity.