1. Does a Hip Muscle Activation Home Exercise Program Change Movement Patterns on the Forward Step-Down Test?
- Author
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McCallister, Erin, Hughs, Caroline, Smith, Mia, and Flowers, Daniel W.
- Subjects
KNEE physiology ,BIOMECHANICS ,STATISTICAL power analysis ,PEARSON correlation (Statistics) ,REPEATED measures design ,PATIENT compliance ,STATISTICAL significance ,DATA analysis ,EXERCISE therapy ,HOME environment ,DESCRIPTIVE statistics ,GLUTEAL muscles ,ELECTROMYOGRAPHY ,DOSE-response relationship in biochemistry ,PRE-tests & post-tests ,STATISTICS ,EXERCISE tests ,CONFIDENCE intervals ,DATA analysis software ,BODY movement ,NEURODEVELOPMENTAL treatment ,POSTURAL balance ,REGRESSION analysis ,INTER-observer reliability ,MUSCLE contraction - Abstract
Context: Poor knee biomechanics contribute to knee joint injuries. Neuromuscular control over knee position is partially derived from the hip. It is unknown whether isolated activation training of the gluteal muscles improves lower-extremity frontal plane mechanics. This study examined if a home-based hip muscle activation program improves performance on the Forward Step-Down Test as well as increases surface electromyography (sEMG) activation of the gluteal muscles. Design: The study utilized a single-group repeated-measures design. Methods: Thirty-five participants (24 females, mean age = 23.17 [SD 1.36] years) completed an 8-week hip muscle activation program. The Forward Step-Down Test score and sEMG of gluteus maximus and medius were assessed preintervention and postintervention. Results: Forward Step-Down Test scores improved significantly from preintervention (Mdn = 3.5) to postintervention (Mdn = 3.0, T = 109, P =.010, r =.31.), but this result did not meet clinical significance. sEMG analysis revealed a significant increase in mean gluteus maximus activation (P =.028, d = 1.19). No significant dose–response relationship existed between compliance and the Forward Step-Down Test scores or sEMG results. Conclusions: A home-based hip activation program increases gluteus maximus activation without clinically significant changes in frontal plane movement quality. Future studies may find clinical relevance by adding motor learning to the activation training program to improve functional muscle use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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