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When an athlete exhibits low back arching during a pulling assessment, it often indicates that certain muscle groups might not be functioning optimally. The intrinsic core stabilizers play a critical role in maintaining proper spinal alignment and stability. These muscles, which include the transverse abdominis, multifidus, and diaphragm, are responsible for providing support to the spine during dynamic movements.

When these intrinsic core stabilizers are underactive, they may fail to properly engage, leading to poor control of the pelvis and lumbar spine. This can result in an exaggerated arch in the lower back as the trunk is unable to stabilize effectively, thus compromising the kinetic chain during the pulling movement.

In contrast, the gluteus maximus, while important for hip extension and overall lower body stabilization, is typically more engaged during pulling movements. The quadriceps primarily assist with knee extension and do not directly influence the stability of the lumbar spine in this context. The erector spinae, while active during pulling as they typically extend the spine, may also contribute to arching if they are overactive. However, it is the insufficient engagement of the intrinsic core stabilizers that is most crucial in addressing the low back arching issue.