Muscle Activation Patterns During Variable Resistance Deadlift Training With and Without Elastic Bands

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of band-assisted variable resistance training on muscular activity in the lower limbs and barbell kinematics during the concentric phase of the deadlift. Fifteen resistance trained men (mean ± SD: 28.7 ± 9.3 y; 1.80 ± 0.90 m; 92.5 ± 15.1 kg) performed six deadlift repetitions during four loading conditions; 100 kg bar (NB), 80 kg bar with 20 kg band tension (B20), 75 kg bar with 25 kg band tension (B25) and 70 kg bar with 30 kg band tension (B30). Muscle activity from the medial gastrocnemius (MG), semitendinosus (ST), vastus medialis (VMO), vastus lateralis (VL), and gluteus maximus (GM) were recorded using surface electromyography (sEMG) during the concentric phase of the lift and expressed as a percentage of each muscle's maximal activity, recorded during a maximal isometric contraction. Barbell power and velocity were recorded using a linear position transducer. Electromyography results showed that muscle activity significantly decreased as band resistance increased in the MG and ST (p < 0.05) and progressively decreased in the GM. No changes were observed for the VMO or VL. Peak and mean bar velocity and power significantly increased as band resistance increased. Performing the deadlift with band-assisted variable resistance increases bar power and velocity, whilst concurrently decreasing muscle activation of the posterior chain musculature. Practitioners prescribing this exercise may wish to include additional posterior chain exercises that have been shown to elicit high levels of muscle activation.

Acute Effects of Elastic Bands as Resistance or Assistance on EMG, Kinetics, and Kinematics During Deadlift in Resistance-Trained Men

“…Using the absolute load would scale down the load in the elastic band-conditions hence causing lower force output but greater velocity when compared to using the same relative load. This could also explain the decreased muscle activation in the elastic band-conditions as observed in the previous studies (Galpin et al, 2015;Heelas et al, 2019). Our force-data are supported by Swinton et al (2011) who compared deadlift using free weights and free weights + chains.…”

“…However, the free weight condition appeared favorable for both average and peak force. Heelas et al (2019) found similar mean activation between the free weight-and band conditions, although free weights led to a higher peak activation in the semitendinosus and medial gastrocnemius. Importantly, both studies matched the load in the upper position i.e., the band and free weight-conditions developed the same absolute load in the top position.…”

“…The findings from these studies differ from our results with both finding the resisted deadlifts to lead to higher average and peak velocity. Further Galpin et al (2015) found the free weights to produce more average and peak force while Heelas et al (2019) found the free weights-condition to activate several of the muscles more than compared to free weights and elastic bands. The differences are most likely a result of different approaches to the problem.…”

“…Two previous studies have both compared force output, barbell velocity and muscle activation between free weights deadlift and resisted deadlifts using elastic bands (Galpin et al, 2015;Heelas et al, 2019). They also examined if different contributions from the elastic bands, i.e., using bands with more tension, affected the parameters.…”

“…Two previous studies have compared the kinetics and neuromuscular activation during free weight deadlift and resisted deadlift using elastic bands (Galpin et al, 2015;Heelas et al, 2019). Both studies found that combining free weights and elastic bands increased the velocity in the lift when compared to only free weights.…”