Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Therapy, The Graduate School, Inje University, Korea | [b] Department of Physical Therapy, College of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Inje University, Korea
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Won-Gyu Yoo, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Inje University, 607 Obangdong, Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do 621-749, Korea. Tel.: +82 55 320 3994; Fax: +82 55 329 1678; E-mail:{[email protected]}
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The gluteus medius (GM) which functions mainly in weight-bearing
to stabilize the pelvis in a unilateral stance against gravity has been
described as having several anatomic subdivisions. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the activation of the three
GM subdivisions (anterior, medial, and posterior) during four weight bearing
exercises. METHODS: This study investigated GM activation in 15 healthy adult
males during four weight-bearing exercises; hip fire hydrant, standing
forward bent-horizontal hip abduction (SFB-HHA), wall press and pelvic
drop. Muscle activations in the three GM subdivisions were measured using
electromyography (EMG) and compared using a repeated one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: All GM subdivisions showed higher activation during high position
exercises (pelvic drop, SFB-HHA, wall press exercise) than during the low
position exercise (hip fire hydrant). The anterior subdivision showed higher
activity during pelvic drop exercise than during SFB-HHA and wall press
exercises. Higher posterior subdivision activity was observed during SFB-HHA
compared to wall press and pelvic drop exercises, posterior subdivision
activity was higher during wall press compared to pelvic drop. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that pelvic drop is the appropriate
exercise to activate the anterior subdivision of the GM, whereas SFB-HHA is
the best exercise to activate the posterior subdivision.
