Electromyographical Differences Between the Hyperextension and Reverse-Hyperextension

Cuthbert, Matthew; Ripley, Nicholas J.; Suchomel, Timothy J.; Alejo, Robert; McMahon, John J.; Comfort, Paul

Abstract

The aims of this study were to compare muscle activation of the erector spinae (ES), gluteus maximus (GMax), and biceps femoris (BF) during the hyperextension (HE) and reverse-HE (RHE) exercises. Ten subjects (age, 23 ± 4 years; height, 175.9 ± 6.9 cm; mass, 75.2 ± 9.7 kg) had electromyography (EMG) electrodes placed on the ES, GMax, and BF muscles in accordance with SENIAM (Surface EMG for Non-Invasive Assessment of Muscles) guidelines. Subjects performed 3 maximum voluntary isometric contraction trials of lumbar extension and hip extension using a handheld and isokinetic dynamometer, respectively, to normalize the EMG during the HE and RHE exercises. Three repetitions of each exercise were executed in a randomized order. High reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient ≥0.925) was observed with low variability (coefficient of variation [CV] < 10%) in all but the GMax during the extension phase of the HE (CV = 10.64%). During the extension and flexion phases, the RHE exhibited significantly greater (p ≤ 0.024; 34.1-70.7% difference) peak EMG compared with the HE in all muscles tested. Similarly, the RHE resulted in significantly greater mean EMG compared with the HE (p ≤ 0.036; 28.2-65.0% difference) in all muscles except the BF during the flexion phase (p = 9.960). Therefore, the RHE could be considered as a higher-intensity exercise for the posterior chain muscles compared with the HE, potentially eliciting greater increases in strength of the posterior chain muscles. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2021 National Strength and Conditioning Association.]

Citation

Cuthbert, M., Ripley, N. J., Suchomel, T. J., Alejo, R., McMahon, J. J., & Comfort, P. (2021). Electromyographical Differences Between the Hyperextension and Reverse-Hyperextension. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 35(6), 1477-1483. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000004049

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 10, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Apr 14, 2021
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2021
• Deposit Date: Aug 2, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 1, 2022
• Journal: Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
• Print ISSN: 1064-8011
• Electronic ISSN: 1533-4287
• Publisher: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
• Volume: 35
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 1477-1483
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000004049
• Keywords: Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, General Medicine
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000004049
• Related Public URLs: http://www.nsca-jscr.org/
• Additional Information: Additional Information : ** From PubMed via Jisc Publications Router **Journal IDs: eissn 1533-4287 **Article IDs: pubmed: 34027916; pii: 00124278-202106000-00001 **History: published 01-06-2021; Access Information : This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article which was published in its final form at the link above.