Unilateral Maximum Electromyography Activities When Comparing Isometric Contraction of Hip Abduction between Dominant and Non-Dominant Legs in Healthy College-aged Subjects

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare unilateral surface electromyography (EMG) activities of hip abductor muscles between the dominant and non-dominant leg in college-aged subjects. A total of 13 healthy participants (aged 23.3 ± 3.9 years) volunteered to participated in the study. Subjects performed three 3-second maximal voluntary isometric contractions of the gluteus medius muscle. Subjects were encouraged to maintain an isometric hip abductor contraction at full knee extension. The subjects were positioned on their sides lying on a therapeutic table. Participants were instructed to push out into the pad during each 3-second maximal voluntary isometric contraction trial. The EMG difference of a contraction in the study was evaluated during the experiments. Maximum voluntary isometric contractions of gluteus medius resulted in a significant difference between dominant (4.09 ± 2.0 voltsㆍsec) and non-dominant (3.31 ± 2.0 voltsㆍsec) legs during hip abductions (p 0.05). The maximum peak EMG of gluteus medius demonstrated no significant difference between dominant (5.32 ± 2.0 volts) and non-dominant (5.02 ± 1.9 volts) legs during hip abductions. In conclusion, maximum voluntary isometric contractions of gluteus medius resulted in a significant difference between dominant and non-dominant legs during hip abductions.