AN INVESTIGATION OF THE ACTIVATION OF THE SUBDIVISIONS OF GLUTEUS MEDIUS DURING ISOMETRIC HIP CONTRACTIONS

Abstract

Gluteus medius is involved in movement and stability of the hip and gluteus medius dysfunction is commonly implicated in many lower limb pathologies (Fredericson et al 2000). It is proposed that functional subdivisions exist within the gluteus medius muscle (Conneely and O’Sullivan 2008). There is however a lack of empirical evidence examining the role of the subdivisions of gluteus medius. This study compared the muscle activation of these subdivisions (anterior, middle and posterior) during isometric contractions of hip abduction, internal and external rotation in normal subjects.