Gluteus Medius Activity With Resistance Band Biking: A Pilot Study

Abstract

PURPOSE: Compare surface electromyography (EMGs) of the gluteus medius (GMed) during the following conditions: while stationary biking with and without a hip abduction resistance band and while performing 5 standard hip strengthening exercises. METHODS: Eleven healthy adult volunteers (27 ± 5 yrs, 7F) were included in this IRB approved study. EMGs of right GMed (1000 Hz) were collected in randomized order for 30 seconds of biking with and without resistance (Band vs no-Band conditions) and for 15 seconds of five standard hip strengthening exercises: 1) Right hip IR with hip ABD (0° extension); 2) Side plank with ipsilateral (right) hip ABD; 3) Side plank with contralateral (left) hip ABD; 4) Single leg squat; 5) Front plank with left hip extensions. EMG linear envelope was normalized to max voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) and averaged across cycles. Peak amplitude and integrated EMG (iEMG) were compared across conditions with paired t-tests (p ≤ 0.05). RESULTS: Normalized peak amplitude and iEMG were significantly higher for the Band compared to the No Band condition (p < 0.001, p = 0.001, respectively). The average increase of 13 ± 9% of MVIC in peak amplitude represented an increase of 111%. Peak amplitude in the four exercises targeting hip ABD (1-4) was significantly (p < 0.01) higher than the banded condition (range increase: 48-100% of MVIC), while peak was lower during front plank. The increase in iEMG with the Band compared to no-band was on average 135%. CONCLUSIONS: Banded biking elicits greater GMed activity in comparison to non-banded biking, but lower than most of the hip strengthening exercises. The addition of a low-cost resistance band to an exercise that is often a part of standard rehab protocol provides an intermediate step in the activation of the hip abductors, before progressing to more demanding activities. This study provides therapists with a better understanding of the progression of exercise and hip abductor muscle recruitment with a goal to further accelerate lower extremity rehabilitation protocols. The inclusion of only healthy subjects is a first step before we study pre-post and non-operative patients.