Comparison of Hip and Back Muscle Activity and Pelvic Compensation in Healthy Subjects During Three Different Prone Table Hip Extension Exercises

Context: Prone hip extension has been recommended for strengthening the back and hip muscles. Previous studies have investigated prone hip extension conducted with subjects on the floor in the prone position. However, no study has compared three different table hip extension (THE) positions in terms of the activities of the back and hip joint muscles with lumbopelvic motion. Objective: This study sought to identify more effective exercises for strengthening the gluteus maximus (GM) by comparing three different exercises [THE alone, THE with the abdominal drawing-in maneuver (THEA), and THEA with chair support under the knee (THEAC)] based on electromyographic muscle activity and pelvic compensation. Design: A repeated-measure within-subject intervention. Setting: University research laboratory. Participants: Sixteen healthy males. Main outcome measures: Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to obtain data on the GM, erector spinae (ES), multifidus (MF), biceps femoris (BF), and semitendinosus (ST). Pelv...