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.
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.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.