Subject: ScienceDirect - Physical Therapy in Sport : The influence of gender on gluteus medius activity during a drop jump

 doi:10.1016/j.ptsp.2007.06.002      

Copyright © 2007 Elsevier Ltd All rights reserved.

Original research

The influence of gender on gluteus medius activity during a drop jump

Christopher R. Carcia and RobRoy L. Martin

Rangos School of Health Sciences, Physical Therapy, Duquesne University, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA

Received 29 January 2007;  revised 14 April 2007;  accepted 26 June 2007.  Available online 17 September 2007. 

Abstract

Objectives

To determine whether gender differences in gluteus medius activity during a drop jump were evident.

Design

Descriptive, between groups comparison.

Setting

Biomechanics Research Laboratory.

Participants

With surface electrodes placed over the muscle belly of the gluteus medius, 10 male and 10 female recreationally active college-aged subjects performed three trials of a drop jump from a box onto a force plate.

Main outcome measures

Bilateral gluteus medius mean and peak amplitude before (200 milliseconds (ms)) and after (250 ms) the drop jump were compared between genders.

Results

No differences in mean or peak amplitude between genders either before or after ground contact for either the right or left sides were apparent. Substantial variability of female electromyographic (EMG) was observed.

Conclusions

Gluteus medius activity was similar between genders before and after ground contact when subjects performed a drop jump. Female subjects exhibited greater variability in gluteus medius EMG during a drop jump when compared to males. Additional research is necessary before firm conclusions regarding the influence of gender on jumping  and landing tasks can be made.

Keywords: Abductor; ACL; EMG; Hip;  Knee  valgus

Article Outline

1. Introduction

2. Methods

2.1. Subjects

2.2. Procedures

2.3. Data reduction

2.4. Statistical analysis

3. Results

4. Discussion

4.1. Limitations

5. Conclusion

References