Kinesiology Movement Breakdown

Question

Durning a Single leg glute bridge on a medicine ball with the leg bent to 90 degrees. What trunk, hip and ankle muscles are helping with this this exercise? Are they eccentric, concentric or isotonic?

Answer 1

During a single leg glute bridge, the body is creating a near global extension torque to lift and stabilize the pelvis. Muscles that are active (from proximal to distal) include erector spinae, multifidi, rotatores, gluteals (max, med, min), deep hip external rotators (piriformis, gemellus superior and inferior, quadratus femoris, obturator externus and internus), hamstrings (biceps femoris, semimembranosis, semitendinosis all as hip extensors), quadriceps (rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, medialis, and intermedius), adductors (as they are flexors when hip is extended and extensors when hip is flexed - including pectineus, adductor longus and brevis, adductor magnus). Ankle musculature that is active will depend on the technique of the individual, but if they are pressing their heel into the ball, usually tibialis anterior will be the most active. There will be co-contraction of the vast majority of ankle musculature to ensure stability, which will include use of the peroneals, foot extrinsics, posterior tibialis, and even the foot intrinsics.

The movement will be generated by concentric activation of all extensors and the descent will be controlled by eccentric activation of those same muscles. Isometric contraction of certain stabilizers of the hip (particularly deep external rotators) is likely to be sustained throughout.