Original ArticleProne hip extension with lower abdominal hollowing improves the relative timing of gluteus maximus activation in relation to biceps femoris
Introduction
The incidence of hamstring injuries within the field of sports medicine is high (Kroll and Raya, 1997, Askling et al., 2000). Bahr and Mæhlum (2004) suggest that hamstring strains are the most common injury among football players and sprinters. Hoskins and Pollard (2005) suggest prevalence rates of 11% in cricket, 11–12% in football and 16% in Australian Rules football. Recurrence rates may be as high as 31% (Petersen and Hölmich, 2005). Hamstring injuries may require a protracted period of recovery and some athletes may encounter difficulty returning to their pre-injury standard of performance (Croisier et al., 2002). The development of strategies to reduce risk factors for hamstring injuries would seem warranted.
It has been suggested that a pattern of dominance of one of the synergists in a force couple, such as the hamstrings and gluteus maximus (GM) in hip extension, and rectus abdominis and hamstrings in posterior pelvic tilt, can lead to an impairment of the dominant muscle (Sahrmann, 2002, Jonkers et al., 2003). The GM is linked anatomically to the lumbar paraspinal muscles via the thoracolumbar fascia which allows load transfer from the lumbopelvic area to the lower extremities (Vleeming et al., 1995). Fatigue of stabilising muscles in the lumbopelvic area can create inefficiencies in the running style, thereby increasing the workload of multiarticular muscles, e.g. the hamstrings. This may predispose to early muscle fatigue and subsequent injury (Devlin, 2000).
By targeting neuromuscular control of hip extensors, this preliminary study aims to investigate the effect of Prone Hip Extension (PHE) exercise with and without lower abdominal hollowing on the relative timing of muscle activation of GM and Biceps Femoris (BF).
Section snippets
Subjects
A convenience sample of 20 healthy volunteers (Table 1) was recruited via e-mail from the Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) student population. Subjects were excluded if they had a history of pain or injuries to the lower back or lower quadrant over the last 6 months, any previous hamstring injuries to either limb, any cardiovascular or orthopaedic contraindications to resistance or endurance exercise, skin allergies, if they were currently taking anti-inflammatory, anti-depressive,
Results
A minimum of ten PHE repetitions were performed by each subject for both Test 1 and Test 2.
Discussion
The results of this study suggest that a specific exercise facilitating proximal to distal muscle activation pattern during PHE might influence the relative timing difference of muscle firing between GM and BF. Subjects performed a PHE exercise lasting less than 10 min where lumbosacral position was monitored with a PBU and abdominal drawing in and gluteal contractions were facilitated. This intervention, when compared to a control group, resulted in reduced delay of GM firing relative to BF but
Conclusion
This study offers some preliminary evidence to suggest that a specific exercise targeting lumbopelvic-hip neuromuscular control might influence the relative activation of BF and GM during PHE in asymptomatic individuals, but in this study the findings were not statistically significant. Further research investigating the effect of specific exercises targeting neuromuscular control of the lumbar spine, pelvis and hip should be conducted to evaluate their effect as an integral part of an injury
References (28)
- et al.
An investigation into the within-subject and between-subject consistency of motor patterns used during prone hip extension in subjects without low back pain
Clinical Chiropractic
(2006) - et al.
Effects of lumbar stabilisation using a pressure biofeedback unit on muscle activity and lateral pelvic tilt during hip abduction in sidelying
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
(2006) - et al.
A comparison of computer-based methods for the determination of onset of muscle contraction using electromyography
Electroencephalography and clinical Neurophysiology
(1996) - et al.
Three dimensional preparatory trunk motion precedes asymmetrical upper limb movement
Gait & Posture
(2000) - et al.
The management of hamstring injury – Part 1: Issues in diagnosis
Manual Therapy
(2005) - et al.
The complementary role of the plantarflexors, hamstrings and gluteus maximus in the control of stance limb stability during gait
Gait & Posture
(2003) - et al.
The validity and reliability of surface EMG to assess the neuromuscular response of the abdominal muscles to rapid limb movement
Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology
(2003) - et al.
Knee joint laxity affects muscle activation patterns in the healthy knee
Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology
(2004) - et al.
Dynamic testing of the motor stereotype in prone hip extension from neutral position
Clinical Biomechanics
(1997) - et al.
Sports-related hamstring strains – two cases with different etiologies and injury sites
Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports
(2000)
Clinical guide to sports injuries
Muscles alive: their functions revealed by electromyography
Hamstring muscle strain recurrence and strength performance disorders
The American Journal of Sports Medicine
Recurrent posterior thigh symptoms detrimental to performance in Rugby Union. Predisposing factors
Sports Medicine
Cited by (44)
The influence of hip rotations on muscle activity during unilateral weight-bearing exercises in individuals with and without genu varum: A cross-sectional study
2020, Physical Therapy in SportCitation Excerpt :When administering exercises with a goal of maximizing Gmed activation, one must consider all synergist muscles to be relatively activated. Synergist muscles act together, and affect each other during movements (Chance-Larsen, Littlewood, & Garth, 2010; Maffetone, 2010). For example, an over-active TFL vs. Gmed can force the patella laterally through connections to the iliotibial band (Selkowitz et al., 2013).
Effect of the Abdominal Hollowing and Bracing Maneuvers on Activity Pattern of the Lumbopelvic Muscles During Prone Hip Extension in Subjects With or Without Chronic Low Back Pain: A Preliminary Study
2017, Journal of Manipulative and Physiological TherapeuticsCitation Excerpt :Recently, it has been suggested that AH is suitable for treatment of unstable spine with altered abdominal muscle recruitment pattern, whereas AB might be more suitable for use in healthy participants,34 although this hypothesis needs further investigation to be applied clinically. Some previous studies reported alterations in electromyography (EMG) signal amplitude (AMP)35,36 and timing37 of the lumbopelvic muscles during hip extension and abduction in healthy participants when these movement were accompanied by AH. Performance of AH and AB maneuvers in asymptomatic participants have been reported to reduce EMG activity of lumbar ES muscles.
Individuals with chronic low back pain demonstrate delayed onset of the back muscle activity during prone hip extension
2015, Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology