Introduction: Yoga is an extensive science that includes many asanas or physical exercises, breathing exercises, meditation, and mindfulness. Yoga poses or exercises are one of the eight components of a broader discipline that target the overall well-being of a person. Co-ordinated, rhythmical activities during yoga asanas result in correction of postural deviations, and muscle imbalance, increase in joint mobility and muscle strength, stimulation of postural control mechanisms, joint flexibility, muscle strength and coordination. Purpose: The purpose of this diploma thesis was to present patterns of muscle activation in selected trunk and hip muscles during specific yoga poses in healthy adults and to assess the use of these positions in rehabilitation programs. Methods: The literature review was executed in the PubMed electronic database. We reviewed scientific research in English, in which they used surface electromyography to assess muscle activation in various participants during the execution of yoga postures. Results: Five studies were selected for the literature review where we differentiated muscle activation results according to achieved percentages of maximum voluntary isometric contraction into low, moderate, high, or very high muscle activation. During the execution of the cobra position, activation of m. gluteus maximus was moderate (20,4–41,0 %), m. obliquus externus abdominis was (29,0 %), m. longissimus thoracis was (34,0 %), and m. erector spinae showed moderate activation (32,0–38,6 %) in the sitting position. The muscle activation of m. rectus abdominis (23,0–30,6 %) during the plank position was moderate, while the activation of m. obliquus externus et internus abdominis (44,5–78,0 %) was high. The values of muscle activation for all observed muscles in the bridge position were low (< 20 %), and the same was found for the activation of m. gluteus medius (7,7–12,3 %) in all observed positions. Results from the warrior II pose showed high activation of the gluteus maximus muscle (39,0–67,0 %) and moderate activation of m. erector spinae (21,0–24,9 %). Discussion and conclusion: Implementing specific yoga postures, based on muscle activation, is meaningful in rehabilitation programs aimed at gaining muscle strength and endurance in trunk and hip muscles. Future research should involve more randomized controlled trials with larger samples, a detailed analysis of biomechanics, and an examination of differences between genders and experienced and inexperienced participants, as well as consideration of various pathologies and injuries.
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