Background: Sedentary behaviour and physical inactivity have a negative impact on musculoskeletal health. The aim of this study was to investigate whether sedentary lifestyle affect the trunk muscle endurance or their endurance ratios. Methods: 106 healthy volunteers (mean age: 36.9 (11.7) years) took part in the study. Information was collected on sitting duration (hours per day) and physical activity frequency (days per week). The endurance of the extensor, flexor and lateral trunk muscles was tested on the 45° Roman chair. Statistical comparisons of trunk muscle endurance and endurance ratios were performed as a function of sitting time and level of physical activity. Results: There was a trend towards statistically significantly better extensor and right-side trunk muscle endurance in less sedentary participants, and a higher flexor-to-extensor ratio in sufficiently physically active participants, but none of these differences were statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusions: Despite the observed trends of statistically significant differences in individual muscle groups and their endurance ratios, the results do not indicate that a sedentary lifestyle affects trunk muscle endurance. Further research involving more participants and more objective monitoring of lifestyle characteristics is needed.
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