Effect of Different Pelvic-Drop Exercises On Muscle Activity In Patients With Gluteus Medius Muscle Weakness

Abstract

<h3>Research Objectives</h3> To determine the effects of pelvic-drop exercise with three different hip rotations on gluteus medius, tensor fasciae latae, gluteus maximus activity, and gluteus medius:tensor fasciae latae activity ratio in patients with gluteus medius weakness. <h3>Design</h3> Cross-sectional study. The effects of different hip rotation positions on hip abductor activity during pelvic-drop exercise were analyzed using a one-way repeated-measures analysis of variance. <h3>Setting</h3> University research laboratory. <h3>Participants</h3> Eighteen patients with gluteus medius weakness participated in the study. <h3>Interventions</h3> The patients performed three different forms of pelvic-drop exercise with neutral hip, hip internal rotation, and hip external rotation. <h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3> Surface electromyography was performed to quantify the activity of gluteus medius, tensor fasciae latae, and gluteus maximus. <h3>Results</h3> Pelvic-drop exercise with hip internal rotation showed significantly greater gluteus medius activity than pelvic-drop exercise with neutral hip and hip external rotation. Tensor fasciae latae also showed significantly greater activity during pelvic-drop exercise with hip internal rotation than pelvic-drop exercise with neutral hip. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Pelvic-drop exercise with hip internal rotation is recommended to stimulate greater gluteus medius activity while preserving gluteus medius:tensor fasciae latae muscle activity ratio. <h3>Author(s) Disclosures</h3> The authors declare no conflict of interest.