Can the gluteus maximus and hamstrings be activated during core strengthening exercises? A comparison of muscle activity in male athletes

Cheng-Feng Lin, Amornthep Jankaew
Purpose:

This study aimed to compare the muscle activity of the gluteus maximus and hamstring muscles during 10 common core strengthening exercises in healthy male athletes. This study aimed to compare the muscle activity of the gluteus maximus and hamstring muscles during 10 common core strengthening exercises in healthy male athletes. 

Methods:

Twenty participants (age = 22.40±1.47 years, sports experience 6.53±4.40 years) participated in this study. Three surface EMG electrodes were attached to the muscle bellies of the gluteus maximus (GM), lateral hamstring (LH), and medial hamstring (MH) of the dominant leg. Root mean square EMG was analyzed during 10 common core strengthening exercises in sports, including back extension, bridging, and bird-dog exercises. A one-way ANOVA was used to compare the differences in muscle activity among the 10 core exercises.

Results:

Significant differences in muscle activation among different core strengthening exercises were found in each muscle: GM (F = 14.600, P 0.001), LH (F = 13.053, P 0.001), and MH (F = 27.710, P 0.001). The GM showed the highest activation during the bird-dog exercise with an unstable hand (64.69% MVC) and the lowest activation during the two-leg bridging exercise on a ball (13.78% MVC). Additionally, both the LH and MH exhibited high activation during the single-leg bridging exercise on a ball (87.34% MVC and 86.19% MVC, respectively), while activation levels were lower during the double-leg bridging exercise on a ball (16.21% MVC for the LH) and during the back extension exercise (11.08% MVC for the MH).

Conclusion(s):

Our findings demonstrate that the bird-dog exercise elicits high activation of the gluteus maximus, while the single-leg unstable bridging exercise strongly engages the hamstrings. This study provides new evidence that core strengthening exercises can effectively recruit the gluteus maximus and hamstring muscles.

Implications:

The current findings underscore the importance of targeted core-strengthening exercises for optimizing muscle activation and recruitment. Incorporating specific core-strengthening exercises into training regimens may not only enhance core muscle strength but also improve gluteus maximus and hamstring activation. This may be essential for athletes who are at particularly high risk of hamstring injuries.

Funding acknowledgements:
This study was granted by the National Science and Technology Council of Taiwan (NSTC 113-2314-B-006-088).
Keywords:
hamstring
activation
core exercises
Primary topic:
Sport and sports injuries
Second topic:
Musculoskeletal: lower limb
Third topic:
Musculoskeletal
Did this work require ethics approval?:
Yes
Name the institution and ethics committee that approved your work:
Institutional Review Board (IRB) of National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Taiwan
Provide the ethics approval number:
B-ER-113-030
Has any of this material been/due to be published or presented at another national or international conference prior to the World Physiotherapy Congress 2025?:
No

Back to the listing