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. 2020 Dec;15(6):856–881. doi: 10.26603/ijspt20200856

Table 5.

Segmental mean gluteus medius activity levels (% MVIC) for exercises.

Exercise category Exercise Muscle segment (middle unless indicated) Low (0‐20% MVIC) Moderate (21‐10% MVIC) High (41‐60% MVIC) Very High (>60% MVIC)
Side‐lie Hip abduction 3971; 3475; 37511; 29‐3173; 42R72; 4576; 4478 63“; 870; 79R®; 100R77
3879; 25‐4674; 2456
Hip abduction + ER 3575; 3758; 2366 53R69; 4179; 4976
Hip abduction + IR 3679; 3366 4575 4958 6276
Hip abduction + Ext 3166
Clam hip flex 30 ° 13‐1780; 1766 4070; 2758
Clam hip flex 30 ° 13‐2130
Clam hip flex 45 ° Anterior 346
Middle 1346; 16‐1873; 1766 3369;27R78;3658 4758;
Posterior 2366
Clam hip flex 60 ° 1981 3658; 3870; 18‐2358 90”
Squat Single leg squat Anterior
Middle 1881 3683; 3064; 30‐3165; 2384; 59U67; 4867; 41‐7787 8268; 6470; 7741; 6657; 9252
2485; 20‐2788; 33‐3786
Posterior 8752
Single leg squat + Abd Anterior 1962 42‐46111
Middle 2762
Posterior 3362
Single leg squat + Add Anterior 4262
Middle 3162
Posterior 2262
Single leg wall squat Anterior 1363
Middle 2563; 2784; 22‐3288 5283
Posterior 3563
Single leg wall squat + Abd Anterior 2962
Middle 3362
Posterior 4462
Single leg wall squat + Add Anterior 1662
Middle 2162
Posterior 2862
Single leg skater squat 6068
Single leg squat + rotation
Squat 1078; 9‐12R61 26‐3354; 2157; 22‐2889 6650
Wall squat 9‐10111
Squat + Abd 24” 47‐5254
Squat + Add 5954
Step Lateral step‐up 3883; 3994 6058; 6377
Lateral step‐up + IR 3094 4194
Lateral step‐up + ER
Lateral step‐down 2184; 19‐2588 7448
Lateral step Anterior
Middle 24‐35RS53; 30RS78; 33‐
50RS93
Posterior 19‐23RU91; 23‐36RS91
Lateral step + IR 44‐58RS91
Lateral step + ER 27‐48RS93
Forward step‐up 1785 2949; 3078 4483; 5568; 4857; 45MR57 6277
Forward step‐down 1492; 175 2384; 20‐2249; 2851;21‐
2785; 19‐2788
Forward step‐up and over Anterior 15‐1764; 15‐2165 8852
Middle 8552
Posterior 8152
Retro step‐up 3783 45RE46
Lunge Forward lunge Anterior
Middle 18-9164; 12-2565;1292 2971 4270 71RE46
1978; 1595; 881
Posterior 28RE46
Transverse lunge 4870 6869
Sideways lunge 1392 3970 6946; 8052
Standing Hip hitch/ pelvic drop Anterior 2163; 2555; 2560
Middle 2863; 2355; 3878 5772; 5868; 4296 6646; 8852
Posterior 3863; 2255 7446; 8852
Hip hitch/ pelvic drop + IR
4296 Hip hitch/ pelvic drop + ER 3396 8246
Hip hitch/ pelvic drop + leg Anterior
swing Middle 6646
Posterior 7246
Hip hitch/ pelvic drop + toe tap Anterior 7646
Middle 5846
Posterior 4646
Hip abduction Anterior 5646 I
Middle 30I46 4246R72; 4459; 50R82
Posterior 41146
Hip abduction (moving limp) 28‐3372 53R82 6459
Supine Single leg bridge 33‐3597; 3178; 3597 40-4299; 5568";47lU68;4771;
42‐5898
Double leg bridge 1797; 1578; 1166 20‐2199; 2871;

Key: Abd ‐ abduction; Add ‐ adduction; ER ‐ hip external rotation; Ext extension; Flex ‐ flexion; IR ‐ hip internal rotation; I ‐ isometric exercise; MR ‐ added medial resistance; R added externa] resistance; RE rear foot elevated; RS ‐ resisted squat posture; RU ‐ resisted upright posture; U ‐ unstable surface.