Evidence of altered corticomotor excitability following targeted activation of gluteus maximus training in healthy individuals.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Uncontrolled before-and-after case series without a control group.
PubMed 26981714 · doi:10.1097/WNR.0000000000000556
What was done
Twelve healthy individuals completed a baseline transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) assessment to measure motor evoked potentials (MEPs) and cortical silent period durations across different stimulation intensities during a double-leg bridge. Participants then completed a home exercise program for approximately 1 hour per day for 6 days consisting of a single exercise targeting the gluteus maximus (GM). Post-training input-output curves (IOCs) were generated and compared against baseline.
What was found
Following the 6-day activation training, the linear slopes of both the MEP IOC and cortical silent period IOC increased significantly, indicating increased corticomotor excitability and changes in inhibitory processes of the gluteus maximus. The abstract reports no exact numerical values, effect sizes, or p-values.
Why it matters
This study provides mechanistic evidence that short-term targeted activation exercises can induce rapid motor cortex neuroplastic changes for the gluteus maximus in healthy individuals.
Limits
The study is limited by a very small sample size (n = 12), lack of a control or comparison group, and evaluation only in healthy individuals rather than a clinical population. The abstract lacks exact quantitative data, does not assess long-term retention of the cortical changes, and does not evaluate transfer to dynamic movement or knee injury prevention.
Cited by
- supports A one-week protocol of high-volume isometric glute exercises demonstrated measurable increases in motor cortex activation or neural connection to the gluteal muscles.