Electromyographic Comparison of Barbell Deadlift, Hex Bar Deadlift, and Hip Thrust Exercises: A Cross-Over Study

Abstract

Andersen, V, Fimland, MS, Mo, D-A, Iversen, VM, Vederhus, T, Rockland Hellebø, LR, Nordaune, KI, and Saeterbakken, AH. Electromyographic comparison of barbell deadlift, hex bar deadlift, and hip thrust exercises: a cross-over study. J Strength Cond Res 32(3): 587-593, 2018-The aim of the study was to compare the muscle activation level of the gluteus maximus, biceps femoris, and erector spinae in the hip thrust, barbell deadlift, and hex bar deadlift; each of which are compound resisted hip extension exercises. After 2 familiarization sessions, 13 resistance-trained men performed a 1 repetition maximum in all 3 exercises in 1 session, in randomized and counterbalanced order. The whole ascending movement (concentric phase), as well as its lower and upper parts (whole movement divided in 2), were analyzed. The hip thrust induced greater activation of the gluteus maximus compared with the hex bar deadlift in the whole (16%, p = 0.025) and the upper part (26%, p = 0.015) of the movement. For the whole movement, the biceps femoris was more activated during barbell deadlift compared with both the hex bar deadlift (28%, p < 0.001) and hip thrust (20%, p = 0.005). In the lower part of the movement, the biceps femoris activation was, respectively, 48% and 26% higher for the barbell deadlift (p < 0.001) and hex bar deadlift (p = 0.049) compared with hip thrust. Biceps femoris activation in the upper part of the movement was 39% higher for the barbell deadlift compared with the hex bar deadlift (p = 0.001) and 34% higher for the hip thrust compared with the hex bar deadlift (p = 0.002). No differences were displayed for the erector spinae activation (p = 0.312-0.859). In conclusion, the barbell deadlift was clearly superior in activating the biceps femoris compared with the hex bar deadlift and hip thrust, whereas the hip thrust provided the highest gluteus maximus activation.

Interpreting Deep Learning Features for Myoelectric Control: A Comparison With Handcrafted Features

“…Surface Electromyography (sEMG) is a technique employed in a vast array of applications from assistive technologies (Scheme and Englehart, 2011a;Phinyomark et al, 2011c) to bio-mechanical analysis (Andersen et al, 2018), and more generally as a way to interface with computers and robots (Zhang et al, 2009;St-Onge et al, 2019). Traditionally, sEMG-based gesture recognition literature primarily focuses on feature engineering as a way to increase the information density of the signal to improve gesture discrimination (Oskoei and Hu, 2007;Scheme and Englehart, 2011b;Phinyomark et al, 2012a).…”

Peer Review #1 of "The effects of a 4-week mesocycle of barbell back squat or barbell hip thrust strength training upon isolated lumbar extension strength (v0.1)"

“…312 However, in light of the previous research as well as present findings, it appears that multi-joint 313 exercises which include trunk extension (such as the BBS and BHT) are not sufficient to strengthen the 338 might be that analyses of individual angles would reveal angle specific strength increases -particularly 339 at 0˚ (full extension) where the hip thrust exercise might have provided the greatest activation of the 340 lumbar extensors (e.g. at 180˚ during a BHT exercise; Andersen, et al 2018). Future research might 341 consider sufficient sample sizes and power to examine this as a pre-specified hypothesis.…”

“…The authors reported favourable effect sizes for the BHT for 80 10m and 20m sprint times, and isometric mid-thigh pull, whereas the front squat exercise produced 81 favourable effect sizes for the vertical jump and front squat 3RM. Andersen, et al (2018) compared EMG 82 activity during the barbell deadlift, hex bar deadlift and BHT exercises. Although there were no 83 statistically significant differences between the three exercises for erector spinae muscle activation, the 84 BHT did elicit the greatest muscle activation during the concentric phase of the movement when the hip 85 angle was approaching or exceeding 180 degrees.…”

“…277 Certainly evidence has suggested that the BHT might be an efficacious exercise for improving sprint 278 performance and mid-thigh pull (Contreras, et al 2017), and data supports considerable muscle 279 activation of the hamstring and gluteal muscles (Contreras, et al 2015). In addition, research has 280 suggested greater erector spinae muscle activation for the BHT compared to the barbell-and hex bar-281 deadlifts (Andersen, et al 2018), and as noted improving ILEX strength can serve to improve Romanian 282 deadlift 1RM 288 Previous research has suggested that the use of exercise where pelvic rotation is permitted does not 289 improve isolated lumbar extension strength (Graves, et al 1994;Fisher, et al 2013 ). As mentioned above we might consider trunk extension (e.g.…”

Peer Review #2 of "The effects of a 4-week mesocycle of barbell back squat or barbell hip thrust strength training upon isolated lumbar extension strength (v0.2)"

“…The authors reported favourable effect sizes for the BHT for 10m and 20m sprint times, and isometric mid-thigh pull, whereas the front squat exercise produced favourable effect sizes for the vertical jump and front squat 3RM. Andersen, et al (2018) compared EMG activity during the barbell deadlift, hex bar deadlift and BHT exercises. Although there were no statistically significant differences between the three exercises for erector spinae muscle activation, the BHT did elicit the greatest muscle activation during the concentric phase of the movement when the hip angle was approaching or exceeding 180 degrees.…”