Performing
hip extension movements in greater hip abduction may therefore increase gluteus maximus involvement, and thereby produce a superior training effect.
Since the hips are multidirectional joints that can produce force in three planes of motion, the wide stance squat provides a superior possibility to train the hips in all three planes and develop stable hip joints by producing
larger hip extension movements and greater hip flexion than narrow stance squats.
Ideally you should do two types of movement for the hamstrings — a
compound hip extension movement (where the hamstrings work in conjunction with the glutes and spinal erectors) and an isolation knee flexion movement.
Hip abduction - adduction — Greater hip abduction leads to greater gluteus medius muscle activity during multi-joint hip extension movements
When using light loads with lower body exercises, you may need to add in extra,
dedicated hip extension movements (such as back extensions, pull throughs, glute bridges, or hip thrusts), but when using heavy loads you may need to take some out.
It was found that hamstrings EMG amplitude in combined hip and knee extension was only 42 % of the level in the
isolated hip extension movement, despite the hip extension moment being identical in both cases.
The regular back squat (and popular isolation exercises such as the glute kickback) is mainly
a hip extension movement — yet another reason why squats aren't the awesome ass - assimilator they're made out to be.
For hamstrings do Romanian deadlifts (or
another hip extension movement) for 2 sets of 8 — 10 reps and leg curls for 2 — 4 sets of 8 — 12 reps.
This may imply that
hip extension movements operating at large degrees of hip flexion are more likely to require greater hamstring and adductor magnus involvement and less gluteus maximus involvement, while hip extension movements operating close to full hip extension are more likely to require greater gluteus maximus involvement.
Hip extension movements operating at large degrees of hip flexion are likely to require greater adductor magnus involvement and less gluteus maximus involvement, while hip extension movements operating close to full hip extension are more likely to require greater gluteus maximus involvement and less adductor magnus involvement.
Alternatively, it could imply that performing
hip extension movements in greater hip external rotation leads to greater adductor EMG amplitude performing hip extension movements in greater hip adduction does not.
These studies have found that
hip extension movements do not differ in their ability to produce a high level of EMG amplitude in the adductor longus but that most hip adduction movements are effective.
Hip extension movements at large degrees of hip flexion are likely to require greater adductor magnus involvement and less gluteus maximus involvement, while hip extension movements close to full hip extension are more likely to require greater gluteus maximus involvement and less adductor magnus involvement.
These findings may imply that
hip extension movements operating at large degrees of hip flexion are more likely to require greater adductor magnus involvement and less gluteus maximus involvement, while hip extension movements operating close to full hip extension are more likely to require greater gluteus maximus involvement and less adductor magnus involvement.