It has been purported that the mechanism for muscular improvement after a gluteal warm-up protocol is likely to occur from neural activation. However, little is known about whether changes in muscular performance are due to changes in muscle activity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether a lower-limb warm-up that targets the gluteal muscle group would improve countermovement jump and short-distance sprinting through increased muscle activity. Ten semi-professional rugby union players (age 25.4 ± 2.9 yr; height 1.83 ± 6.7 m; body mass 96.8 ± 10.6 kg) with at least three years of resistance training experience volunteered for the study. In a cross-over design, participants performed countermovement jumps and 5 m sprints before and after a gluteal warm-up and a 10 min rest (control). Electromyography was used to measure muscle activity of the gluteus maximus and biceps femoris. Countermovement jump height significantly improved (7.9%, p < 0.05) after the lower-limb warm-up protocol compared with the control (3.2%). There was a significant (p < 0.05) improvement in sprint times over 2.5 m and 5 m regardless of the condition. There was no significant change in the muscle activity in any of the conditions. The results indicate that a lower-limb warm-up can acutely enhance countermovement jump performance compared to a control.
[Purpose] The aim of this study was to determine the highest electromyography (EMG) amplitude of the gluteus maximus from closed and open kinetic gluteal maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVICs). [Participants and Methods] Ten healthy male rugby players performed three MVIC techniques that included, in random order: single leg squat, prone hip extension and standing gluteal squeeze. EMG signals were recorded from the inferior and superior regions of gluteus maximus of the dominant leg, and were normalized to the prone hip extension. [Results] For statistical analysis the EMG of both gluteus maximus regions were pooled together. The standing gluteal squeeze revealed a significantly lower EMG compared to single leg squat and prone hip extension. However, there was no significant difference in gluteal EMG activity between single leg squat and prone hip extension. [Conclusion] There is no distinct advantage for either single leg squat or prone hip extension in eliciting maximum EMG activity. Future research should compare the present positions with other MVICs that are commonly prescribed or have been demonstrated to produce high EMG amplitudes.
A reduction in gluteus maximus (GM) strength may contribute to the etiology of musculoskeletal impairments and lower-extremity injuries. Currently, there is a paucity of evidence regarding the efficacy of implementing a short-term gluteal activation programme to improving muscle performance. Twenty four semi-professional rugby males were assigned randomly to a gluteal activation group (GLUTE) or a control group (CON). During the 6-week training intervention, the GLUTE and CON groups performed the same training, however that GLUTE group performed seven gluteal activation exercises three times weekly prior to their normal training sessions. Whilst the CON group performed the conventional training with no gluteal activation exercises. Electromyography (EMG) was measured during a maximal isometric unilateral squat (MVIC) and unilateral hip extension force from the left and right vastus lateralis, gluteus maximus, and biceps femoris. After 6 weeks of training there was no significant main or interaction effect (p > 0.05) of EMG and peak force for MVIC and hip extension between GLUTE and CON. The current gluteal activation programme did not enhance EMG activity and hip extension force therefore, the body-weight exercises may not have been sufficient to elicit the appropriate changes.
The hip extensors are an important muscle group for sporting and functional movements, but assessing this muscle group for musculoskeletal dysfunction and strength testing has been performed in adult males and females as a prone, open-chain exercise, which provides little posture specificity for locomotive activities. Given the importance of closed-kinetic chain exercises for strength and rehabilitation requirements, there is an obvious need to assess hip extension but little is known about executing a closed-kinetic chain hip extension exercise for adolescents. Therefore, the aim of this study was to ascertain hip extensor muscle activation pattern and force production using a semi-orthostatic position while performing a unilateral closed-kinetic hip extension exercise. Fourteen young healthy adolescent male participants performed three maximal repetitions of closed-kinetic chain left and right hip extension on a glute machine. Electromyography (EMG) from left and right rectus femoris (RF), gluteus maximus (GM), and biceps femoris (BF) was recorded and RF, GM, and BF EMG mean amplitude, EMG area and onset times were analysed. There was no significant difference in EMG mean amplitude and EMG area between RF, GM, and BF but the right hip showed a significantly higher EMG (p < 0.05) than the left hip. The relative onset difference between GM and BF was similar in both hips, suggesting that there was no dominant muscle firing order. The closed-kinetic chain hip extension could be advantageous when assessing neuromuscular function and training muscle strength because the semi-orthostatic position of hip extension exercise provides a posture similar to functional activities.
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