Effect of external load on muscle activation during the barbell back squat

The aim of this study was to compare gluteus maximus-to-hamstring (GM:H) co-activation, hamstrings-to-quadriceps (H:Q) co-activation, and mean muscle activity in the vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis (VM), rectus femoris (RM), gluteus maximus (GM), semitendinosus (ST), and bicep femoris (BF) muscles across a range of training loads (40%, 50%, 50%, 70%, 80% 90% 1RM) of the barbell back squat in resistance trained females. Surface electromyography (EMG) was observed in 18 healthy resistance trained females for the VL, VM, RM, GM, ST, and BF during the ascending and descending phase of the back squat. During the ascending phase, the VL, VM, RM, GM, ST, and BF displayed significantly more EMG activation at 90% 1RM compared to 40%-70% (