Intervention — any acute study assessing the muscle activity of
the erector spinae during the deadlift exercise
Comparing barbell squat variations, Aspe et al. (2014) explored
the erector spinae during back squats and overhead squats with loads equal to 60, 75 and 90 % of 3RM.
Comparing the effect of load, Vigotsky et al. (2014) explored the muscle activity of the lumbar (at L3) and thoracic (at T9)
erector spinae during the good morning exercise performed with varying relative loads (50 — 90 % of 1RM).
Intervention — any acute study assessing the muscle activity of
the erector spinae during the split squat exercise
Not exact matches
Heavier loads, faster bar speeds, and greater depth (with the same relative load), all lead to increased
erector spinae muscle activity
during back squats.
Assessing the effects of cues, Bressel et al. (2009) found that conscious efforts to contract the abdominal muscles
during squats did not affect the muscle activity of the
erector spinae.
Noe et al. (1992) assessed
erector spinae muscle activity
during an isokinetic machine deadlift, and found that
erector spinae muscle activity peaked at 83 % of lift height, which was after the point where peak force output was produced (67 % of lift).
During many traditional core exercises (like plank and push - up variations, leg raises, and abdominal roll - outs),
erector spinae muscle activity is low.
Jackson et al. (2008) compared the COV of the EMG amplitude (linear envelope) in the thoracic and lumbar
erector spinae between MVICs and SVICs,
during prone, seated, and standing trunk flexion tasks.
Assessing the effects of equipment, Escamilla et al. (2002) explored
erector spinae muscle activity (at L3)
during conventional and sumo deadlifts with and without a weightlifting belt.
Several studies have assessed
erector spinae muscle activity
during compound exercises.
Additionally, they reported superior lower
erector spinae muscle activity
during the bent over row and inverted row compared to the standing cable row.
When performing the squat variations with 90 % of 3RM, muscle activity of the
erector spinae was superior in the back squat
during the ascending phase (94.7 ± 20.8 vs. 79.8 ± 22.5 % of MVC) while there was no difference
during the descending phase (72.1 ± 22.2 vs. 69.7 ± 13.5), respectively.
Comparing the effect external resistance type, Saeterbakken et al. (2014) explored
erector spinae muscle activity
during the back squat with 6RM loads using either a barbell or a combination of a barbell and elastic resistance (where elastic resistance comprised between 25 — 40 % total load, depending on the phase of the lift).
They reported no difference in either upper or lower
erector spinae muscle activity
during the ascending phase of the lift.
During squats, training with higher loads and faster speeds appear to maximise
erector spinae muscle activity, while internal cues, unstable surfaces, using barbells with elastic resistance, changing footwear, or using a weightlifting belt do not affect
erector spinae muscle activity.
Comparing compound and stability exercises, Comfort et al. (2011) explored lower
erector spinae muscle activity
during the back squat, front squat, the standing barbell press, plank and superman on a swiss ball.
Comparing a range of compound exercises, McAllister et al. (2014) explored
erector spinae muscle activity
during the leg curl, good morning, glute - ham raise, and Romanian deadlift with 85 % of 1RM.
The
erector spinae is highly active
during a number of less traditional exercises, including the log - lift and tire - flip strongman events, but the sled push exercise produces lower muscle activity than the back squat.
The highest
erector spinae muscle activity is displayed as the bar is lowered
during the descending phase until its peak, but
erector spinae muscle activity is similar throughout the whole of the ascending phase.
Nuzzo et al. (2008) compared the upper (at L1) and lower (at L5)
erector spinae muscle activity
during the birddog, hip bridge with feet on swiss ball, and back extension from a swiss ball.
Lower
erector spinae muscle activity is very high
during both back squats and deadlifts.
Assessing the effect of surface stability
during back squats, Bressel et al. (2009) explored
erector spinae muscle activity
during the barbell back squat with 50 % of 1RM both when standing on the floor and when standing on a BOSU ball.
Comparing the effect of external resistance type, Vinstrup et al. (2015) explored
erector spinae muscle activity
during a machine trunk rotation exercise and a standing torso twist exercise with elastic resistance.
During deadlifts, training with faster speeds, using conventional or sumo deadlift technique, introducing an unstable surface, and using a weightlifting belt do not affect
erector spinae muscle activity.
Assessing different whole - body exercises, McGill et al. (2014) explored upper and lower
erector spinae muscle activity
during the hanging leg raise (straight - leg and bent - leg), the hand walk - out, and body - saw with a suspension system.
Assessing the effects of stability
during split squats, Andersen et al. (2014) explored
erector spinae muscle activity in the split squat with the foot placed on the floor or on a foam cushion, using 6RM.
During the squat, training with higher loads and faster speeds appear to increase
erector spinae muscle activity, while internal cues, unstable surfaces, using both barbells and elastic resistance, altering footwear, and using a weightlifting belt do not affect
erector spinae muscle activity.
Comparing the back squat and the sled, Maddigan et al. (2014) compared the
erector spinae muscle activity
during the back squat performed with 10RM and the weighted sled push at a 20 step maximum.
They reported no difference in
erector spinae muscle activity between the two squat variations despite a greater absolute load being lifted
during the back squat.
Assessing the effects of upper or lower body movement, Kim et al. (2015) explored
erector spinae muscle activity
during isometric hip extension exercises performed with either the upper or lower body moving and with either neutral or maximal lumbar and hip extension.
Therefore, it appears that
erector spinae muscle activity is higher
during deeper squats compared to shallower squats.
Yavus et al. (2015) assessed
erector spinae muscle activity
during back and front squats with 1RM.
Therefore, the data appears to indicate that the
erector spinae displays superior muscle activity
during the second half of the conventional deadlift and not necessarily at the same point as the region in which maximum force is exerted.
During the 1 handed swing, the opposite side (from the kettlebell hand) upper
erector spinae displayed superior muscle activity compared to the kettlebell side (35 ± 15 vs. 42 ± 13 %), while there was no difference in lower
erector spinae muscle activity between sides.
The «leg biceps» - femoris biceps - and the
erector spinae in the lower back worked less hard
during the trap bar deadlift.
When controlling for relative load, bar speed does not affect
erector spinae muscle activity
during deadlifts.