The Effects of Loaded Squat Exercise Variations on Tri-Planar Hip Net Joint Moments and Deep Gluteal Requirements in Resistance Trained Females

• Author / Creator

  Fielding, Zachary

• Gluteus medius and minimus (hereafter, the deep gluteals) contribute to everyday movement by providing both supportive and propulsive actions, such as during gait. Deep gluteal weakness has been associated with chronic low back pains, knee pains, and abnormal skeletal development. Due to these associations, physical training may be required to maintain or enhance their function. The objectives of this cross-sectional investigation were to: (i) identify the loaded squat exercise(s) that generated the greatest hip net joint moments (NJMs) in planes associated with primary deep gluteal actions in flexed hip postures to facilitate extrapolations to potential muscle utilizations, and (ii) identify a potential relationship between ground reaction forces (GRFs) and hip NJMs to be used as approximation method for estimating frontal and transverse plane hip NJMs. Tri-dimensional lower limb NJMs, GRFs, and kinematics were collected during four resisted squat variations in female participants to satisfy these objectives. Exercises were selected based on their potential to require substantial frontal and/or transverse plane hip NJMs, as the deep gluteal muscles are postulated to be primary contributors to both planes. The bilateral squat (BS) was expected to have substantial transverse plane NJMs; the forward split squat (FSS), lateral split squat (LSS), and single limb squat (SLS) were hypothesized to have large frontal plane NJMs. Nineteen female participants who could BS ≥80% bodyweight attended three sessions which consisted of exercise familiarization and/or five repetition-maximum (RM) testing and/or data collection. Findings revealed significant between-exercise differences in all three planes for both hip NJMs and GRFs. Specifically, the SLS elicited the greatest frontal (abductor) and transverse (internal rotator) plane NJMs of any variation. In addition, tri-planar hip NJM strategies varied the least during the FSS, LSS, and SLS; these exercises exhibited hip NJM polarities associated with the deep gluteal muscles. Medial GRF magnitudes did not parallel frontal and transverse plane NJM magnitudes as hypothesized, indicating that GRF alone are not sufficient to predict hip NJMs in hip flexed postures. Further investigations should seek to improve upon methodological inconsistencies, investigate causes of presented NJM strategy patterning, and study the longitudinal effects of squat variations on deep gluteal strength.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Squat
  • Hip net joint moment
  • gluteal
  • Female

• Graduation date

  Spring 2023

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/r3-rm43-ea81

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.