Gluteus Medius Exercises (Activation)

This course describes gluteus medius exercises, commonly referred to as gluteus medius activation. Performing hip abduction exercises, with the addition of hip extension, hip external rotation, and tibial internal rotation can improve recruitment (isolation) of this important muscle. The gluteus medius is the primary abductor and frontal plane stabilizer of the hip. It is common to include these exercises in a program designed to address knee valgus (knees bow in) ; however, these exercises may also be recommended to reduce an asymmetrical weight shift, knee varus, feet turn out, and feet flatten (pes planus). Addressing these signs has been correlated with improving and reducing the risk of low back pain, hip pain, knee pain, ankle pain and foot pain, and improving sports performance. Movement professionals (personal trainers, physical therapists, athletic trainers, massage therapists, chiropractors, occupational therapists, etc.) should consider adding these exercises to their repertoire with the intent of improving patient/client outcomes from their integrated exercise programs and therapeutic (rehabilitation) interventions.

Isolated Muscle Activation Exercises:

• Clams
• Resisted Clams
• Side-lying leg lift
• Resisted side-lying leg lift
• Resisted side-lying leg lift with a stability ball

Reactive Muscle Activation Exercises

• Side-stepping
• Side-stepping progressions
• Glute medius single-leg hop progression

Subsystem Integration Exercises

Last, it is important to integrate the increase in gluteal muscle activity into functional exercise. The Brookbush Institute accomplishes this with anterior oblique subsystem and the posterior oblique subsystem integration. Some example movements for these purposes include:

• Chop (AOS)
• Step To Balance To Push (AOS)
• Reverse Lunge To Push (AOS)
• Squat To Row (POS)
• Step Up To Row (POS)
• Reverse Lunge To Row (POS)

Pre-approved credits for:

• Human Movement Specialist (HMS) Certification
• Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) Certification

Pre-approved for Continuing Education Credits for:

• Athletic Trainers
• Chiropractors
• Group Exercise Instructors
• Massage Therapists
• Occupational Therapists - Intermediate
• Personal Trainers
• Physical Therapists
• Physical Therapy Assistants
• Yoga Instructors

This Course Includes:

• AI Tutor
• Study Guide
• Text and Illustrations
• Audio Voice-over
• Research Review
• Technique Videos
• Case Study and Sample Routine
• Practice Exam
• Pre-approved Final Exam

Caption: Demo of a side lying leg lift targeting the glute medius

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2. Boren K, Conrey C, Coguic J, Paprocki L, Voight M, Robinson T. Eletromyographic Analysis of Gluteus Medius and Maximus During Rehabilitation Exercises. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2011 Sep; 6(3): 206–223.
3. Selkowitz DM, Beneck GJ, Powers CM. (2016) Comparison of electromyographic activity of the superior and inferior portions of the gluteus maximus muscle during common therapeutic exercises. JOSPT. 46(9): 794-799.
4. Berry, J. W., Lee, T. S., Foley, H. D., & Lewis, C. L. (2015). Resisted Side Stepping: The Effect of Posture on Hip Abductor Muscle Activation. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 45(9), 675-682.
   • Pathology:
5. Cooper, N., Scavo, K., Strickland, K., Tipayamongkol, N., Nicholson, J., Bewyer, D., Sluka, K. Prevalence of gluteus medius weakness in people with chronic low back pain compared to healthy controls. J Euro Spine. 26 May 2015
6. Grimaldi, A, Richardson, C, Stanton, W., Durbridge, G, Donnelly, W. and Hides, J. (2009) The association between degenerative hip joint pathology and size of the gluteus medius, gluteus minimus and piriformis muscles. (2009). Manual Therapy 14. 605-610
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10. Franettovich, S. M., Honeywill, C. O. N. O. R., Wyndow, N., Crossley, K. M., & Creaby, M. W. (2014). Neuromotor control of gluteal muscles in runners with achilles tendinopathy. Medicine and science in sports and exercise, 46(3), 594-599.
    • Kinematics
11. Smith, J. A., Popovich, J. M., & Kulig, K. (2014). The influence of hip strength on lower limb, pelvis, and trunk kinematics and coordination patterns during walking and hopping in healthy women. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, (Early Access), 1-23.
12. Mauntel, T., Begalle, R., Cram, T., Frank, B., Hirth, C., Blackburn, T., & Padua, D. (2013). The effects of lower extremity muscle activation and passive range of motion on single leg squat performance. Journal Of Strength And Conditioning Research / National Strength & Conditioning Association, 27(7), 1813-1823.
13. Padua, D. A., Bell, D. R., & Clark, M. A. (2012). Neuromuscular characteristics of individuals displaying excessive medial knee displacement. Journal of athletic training, 47(5), 525
    • Exercise Helps Functional Valgus
14. Bell, D. R., Oates, D. C., Clark, M. A., & Padua, D. A. (2013). Two-and 3-dimensional knee valgus are reduced after an exercise intervention in young adults with demonstrable valgus during squatting. Journal of athletic training,48(4), 442-449.
15. Ramskov, D., Barton, C., Nielsen, R. O., & Rasmussen, S. (2015). High Eccentric Hip Abduction Strength Reduces the Risk of Developing Patellofemoral Pain Among Novice Runners Initiating a Self-Structured Running Program: A 1-Year Observational Study. journal of orthopaedic & sports physical therapy, 45(3), 153-161
16. Snyder, K. R., Earl, J. E., O’Connor, K. M., & Ebersole, K. T. (2009). Resistance training is accompanied by increases in hip strength and changes in lower extremity biomechanics during running. Clinical Biomechanics, 24(1), 26-34
17. Hewett, T. E., Myer, G. D., Ford, K. R., Heidt, R. S., Colosimo, A. J., McLean, S. G., & Succop, P. (2005). Biomechanical measures of neuromuscular control and valgus loading of the knee predict anterior cruciate ligament injury risk in female athletes A prospective study. The American journal of sports medicine, 33(4), 492-501.
    • Manual Muscle Testing:
18. Florence Peterson Kendall, Elizabeth Kendall McCreary, Patricia Geise Provance, Mary McIntyre Rodgers, William Anthony Romani, Muscles: Testing and Function with Posture and Pain: Fifth Edition © 2005 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
19. Helen J. Hislop, Dale Avers, Marybeth Brown. Daniels and Worthingham’s Muscle Testing: Techniques of Manual Examination and Performance Testing: 9th Edition. © 2014 Elsevier: Saunders
20. Dr. Mike Clark & Scott Lucette, “NASM Essentials of Corrective Exercise Training” © 2011 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins