Comparisons of Gluteus Maximus and Hamstring Muscle Activities according to Three Different Sling Locations during Bridge Exercise with Sling in Supine Position

Abstract

Purpose:The study was undertaken to investigate the electromyographic activities of the gluteus maximus (GM), hamstring (HAM), and multifidus (MF) in three different sling locations during bridge exercise in the supine position. Methods: Twenty healthy male subjects participated. An electromyography device was used to measure the muscle activities of the GM, HAM, and MF muscles. Subjects were asked to perform bridge exercises with three different sling locations as follows: 1) Bridge exercise with an ankle sling; BEAS, 2) Bridge exercise with a calf sling; BECS, and 3) Bridge exercise with a knee sling; BEKS in random order. The analysis was conducted using one-way repeated ANOVA and the Bonferroni post hoc. Significance was set at α= 0.01. Results: HAM muscle activity was significantly different in the three conditions (BEAS, BECS, BEKS) (adjusted p-value [padj]< 0.01), and HAM muscle activity was significantly smaller during BEKS than during BEAS or BECS (padj < 0.01). Muscle activity ratio (GM/HAM) during BEKS was significantly greater than muscle activity ratios during BEAS or BECS (padj < 0.01). Conclusion: BEKS is recommended to inhibit HAM muscle activity and improve the GM/HAM muscle activity ratio.