Gluteal Muscle Activation During Therapeutic Exercise

Abstract

Exercises to strengthen the gluteus medius (GMED) and maximus (GMAX) muscles are frequently used in rehabilitation and injury prevention programs without scientific evidence regarding their effectiveness in activating the targeted muscles. PURPOSE: To evaluate muscle activation of the GMED and GMAX muscles during common therapeutic exercises. METHODS: Electromyography was used to measure activity of the GMED and GMAX in 27 healthy, physically active subjects while performing non-weight bearing (sidelying hip abduction, hip clams at 30 and 60° hip flexion) and weight bearing (lateral band walks, single leg squat, single leg deadlift, multiplanar lunges in 3 directions, multiplanar hops with stabilization in 3 directions) exercises. Repeated measure ANOVAs were used to compare mean amplitude activation levels across exercises for the GMED and GMAX. RESULTS: Significant differences between exercises were noted for the GMED (F4,113=8.26, p<.0001) and GMAX (F5,142=10.61, p<.0001). GMED activity was greater during sidelying hip abduction (75±45%MVIC), single leg squat (62±23%MVIC), and lateral band walk (59±32%MVIC) exercises compared to hip clams (36±35%MVIC) and sideways lunge (38±19%MVIC) exercises. GMAX activity during the single leg deadlift (58±26%MVIC) and squat (60±29%MVIC) was greater than the hip clams (32±26%MVIC), forward hop (36±21%MVIC), and transverse hop (52±20%MVIC) exercise. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study may influence clinical decisions regarding which exercises to include in rehabilitation and injury prevention programs focusing on hip musculature. Supported by the National Academy of Sports Medicine