Abstract
The purpose of this study was to compare three clam exercises (clam, modified clam 1, and modified clam 2) used in the Pilates physical fitness system, to examine the activity of the gluteus medius and tensor fascia latae and to determine which of the three exercises maximizes the activity of the gluteus medius while minimizing the activity of the tensor fascia latae. Twenty healthy volunteers participated in this study. Surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to measure the electrical activities of the gluteus medius (GMed) and tensor fascia latae (TFL). This study showed significant differences between GMed and TFL muscle activities according to each of the three clam exercises (p < 0.05). The gluteus medius showed the highest activity during modified clam 2 and the lowest in clam (p < 0.05). Tensor fascia latae showed the lowest activity during clam and the highest in modified clam 2 (p < 0.05). The gluteus medius to tensor fascia latae ratio was the highest in modified clam 1 and the lowest in modified clam 2 (p < 0.05). Therefore, these findings inform clinicians and Pilates instructors that the appropriate exercise to maximize the activity of the gluteus medius while minimizing the activity of the tensor facia latae is modified clam 1.
Highlights
There was a significant difference in gluteus medius (GMed) activity between CL and M-CL 1, and a significant difference between CL and M-CL 2, but there was no significant difference between M-CL 1 and M-CL 2
There was a significant difference in tensor fascia latae (TFL) activity between CL and M-CL 2, as well as a significant difference between M-CL 1 and M-CL 2, but there was no significant difference between CL and M-CL 1
Twenty healthy men and women in their 20s were compared for the activity of their gluteus medius and tensor fasciae latae muscles in three Pilates clam exercises, with the aim of minimizing the activity of tensor fasciae latae while maximizing the activity of the gluteus medius
Summary
The gluteus medius is a muscle that provides pelvic stability and controls the movement of the thigh while the lower extremities are moving, and the importance of selective strengthening of this muscle in lower and upper musculoskeletal disease exercise programs is constantly emphasized [1,2,3,4].This muscle is the largest of the hip abductor, providing stability of the pelvis and hip joints in the stance phase [5,6].If the gluteus medius fails to produce normal torque, lateral bending of the trunk and circumduction may occur during walking, and weight support during the stance phase may not be available, producing a Trendelenburg sign in which the pelvis tilts to the opposite side [7,8]. The gluteus medius is a muscle that provides pelvic stability and controls the movement of the thigh while the lower extremities are moving, and the importance of selective strengthening of this muscle in lower and upper musculoskeletal disease exercise programs is constantly emphasized [1,2,3,4]. This muscle is the largest of the hip abductor, providing stability of the pelvis and hip joints in the stance phase [5,6]. If abnormal alignment of the hip joint occurs due to weakness of the gluteus medius, the knee joint may be moved laterally due to the increased valgus force, resulting in overactivation of the tensor fasciae latae and weakness or contraction of gluteus medius posterior fibers [12]
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