Acute Effect of a Gluteal Activation Warm-up on Hip Muscle Activity and Kinematics During a Single Leg Squat

Gluteal activation warm-up is one of the modalities being investigated recently. Although widely used in clinical and sports practice, it is unclear whether, in fact, performing gluteal activation exercises in warm-up is effective in increasing electromyographic activation (EMG), as well as the mechanisms that explain eventual gluteal activation improvement of neuromuscular function. Thus, the aim of this study is to verify the acute effect of a gluteal activation warm-up protocol on gluteus maximus (superior fibers) and gluteus medius EMG activation and kinematics during single leg squat. The hypotheses of this study are that after a gluteal activation warm-up program, there will be an increase in the muscle recruitment (mean) levels of the gluteus maximus (superior fibers) and gluteus medium. About kinematics, the hypotheses is that a decrease on hip adduction absolute angle and hip and knee frontal plane ROM on maximum knee flexion during single leg squat will occur. Physically active adults from 18 to 35 years old, with no history of previous injury or surgery on the lower limbs, who present excessive hip adduction during single-leg squat on the dominant limb in previous evaluation via visual scoring scale will participate in this study. The design adopted will be performed in the following order: (1) Preparation and familiarization. (2) Intervention protocol (standard warm-up protocol or the gluteal activation warm-up protocol), (4) immediately after the intervention protocol, the subjects will perform 3 single-leg squats and (5) EMG and MIVC strength test. The standard warm-up consist 5 minutes on a stationary bike and 30 seconds calf, hamstrings and quadriceps stretch. The gluteal activation warm-up protocol consists of performing the standard warm-up protocol and 3 sets of 12 repetitions clam exercise, using a elastic band (Perform Better®, USA). Exertion perception will be controlled using an exertion perception scale (OMNI). From kinematic and EMG data, ab