Evaluating gluteus maximus maximal voluntary isometric contractions for EMG normalization in male rugby players

Abstract

[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.

Gluteal muscle activation during rehabilitation exercises in female field hockey players

“…Our study was conducted exclusively on high-performance female field hockey players, therefore limiting generalisation to this group as it only provided data on the participants’ dominant side. The use of sEMG is associated with limitations because of various influences on the sEMG signal amplitude such as cross-talk (Bishop et al 2018 ; Cochrane et al 2019 ; Serner et al 2014 ). Owing to the close proximity of the TFL muscle and gluteus minimus to Gmed, it is possible that these two muscles may contribute to the muscle activity recorded by the sEMG signal for Gmed (Distefano et al 2009 ).…”

“…Only body weight rehabilitation exercises that are performed without any additional external load, such as a barbell, dumbbell, band and machine, as well as plyometric or hopping movements, were considered. The only studies that met these criteria were those of Boren et al ( 2011 ), Simenz et al ( 2012 ), Webster and Gribble ( 2013 ), Lee et al ( 2014 ), MacAskill, Durant and Wallace ( 2014 ), Kim and Yoo ( 2015 ), Jeon, Kwon and Weon (2016), Ebert et al ( 2017 ), Macadam and Feser ( 2019 ) and Cochrane, Gabriel and Harnett ( 2019 ). Cochrane et al ( 2019 ) was the only study conducted in a high-performance population, namely rugby players.…”

“…The only studies that met these criteria were those of Boren et al ( 2011 ), Simenz et al ( 2012 ), Webster and Gribble ( 2013 ), Lee et al ( 2014 ), MacAskill, Durant and Wallace ( 2014 ), Kim and Yoo ( 2015 ), Jeon, Kwon and Weon (2016), Ebert et al ( 2017 ), Macadam and Feser ( 2019 ) and Cochrane, Gabriel and Harnett ( 2019 ). Cochrane et al ( 2019 ) was the only study conducted in a high-performance population, namely rugby players. The remaining studies selected apparently healthy individuals.…”

Electromyographic Comparison of Five Lower-Limb Muscles between Single- and Multi-Joint Exercises among Trained Men

“…The order of the exercises was standardized to avoid displacement of the posterior electrodes by sitting on the electrodes while performing the knee extension before the kickback. All exercises were performed unilaterally using the left leg due to the design of the machines and one previous comparable study (Cochrane et al, 2019).…”

“…Further, the EMG amplitude of the semitendinosus and semimembranosus might be inhibited when combining extension of the knee and hip (Fujiwara and Basmajian, 1975;Yamashita, 1988). Regarding the hip extensor gluteus maximus, the only known study comparing EMG amplitude during back squats and hip extensions reported similar activity during the two exercises (Cochrane et al, 2019).…”