Effect of abdominal drawing-in maneuver with prone hip extension on muscle activation of posterior oblique sling in normal adults.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Non-randomized within-subject comparative physiological study
PubMed 32581433 · doi:10.1589/jpts.32.401
What was done
Twenty healthy adults (10 males, 10 females) performed standard prone hip extension (PHE) and prone hip extension combined with the abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM PHE). Surface electromyography (EMG) recorded muscle activation from the contralateral latissimus dorsi, ipsilateral erector spinae, ipsilateral gluteus maximus, and ipsilateral biceps femoris. Muscle activity between conditions was compared using paired t-tests.
What was found
The abstract reports directional statistical significance without providing numerical values, standard deviations, or p-values. EMG activity in the contralateral latissimus dorsi and ipsilateral gluteus maximus was significantly greater during ADIM PHE compared to standard PHE. Conversely, activation of the ipsilateral erector spinae and ipsilateral biceps femoris was lower during ADIM PHE than standard PHE.
Why it matters
Incorporating the abdominal drawing-in maneuver during prone hip extension may optimize activation of the posterior oblique sling by facilitating gluteus maximus recruitment while minimizing compensatory reliance on the lumbar erector spinae and hamstrings.
Limits
The study had a small sample size (n = 20) limited to healthy, asymptomatic adults, preventing direct generalization to clinical populations with low back pain or gluteal inhibition. The abstract omitted all quantitative metrics, effect sizes, and exact p-values. Kinematics, joint angles, and long-term training adaptations were not evaluated.
Cited by
- supports Connective tissue slings span across different planes in the body, connecting anatomical structures such as the posterior side of the left shoulder to the posterior side of the right glute.