1Corrective Exercise and Sport Injury of Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
2Department of Biomechanics and Sport Injury, University of Kharazmi, Tehran, Iran
3Department of Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation Faculty Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4Department of sport physiology, Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University, Tehran, Iran
*Corresponding e-mail: shirin.aali@yahoo.com
Online published on 23 November, 2018.
Iliopsoas stiffness and restricted hip extension ROM affect muscle balance and lumbopelvic alignment. The purpose of this research is study of iliopsoas tightness’ effect on electromyographic activity of hip extensor synergists during gait.
In this case-control study 15 adolescents with iliopsoas tightness as experimental group, and 15 healthy adolescents which matched based on age, height, weight, BMI, dominant leg, and sport experience participated voluntarily as control group. Surface electromyographic (sEMG) activity of the gluteus maximus, adductor magnus, and biceps femoris, were measured between groups during stance phase of gait.
Individuals with restricted hip flexor muscle length demonstrated more gluteus maximus activation during terminal stance (p=0.001), more biceps femoris activation during mid stance (p=0.002) and late stance (p=0.001) and more adductor magnus activation during mid stance (p=0.04) and late stance (p=0.001).
Adolescent soccer athletes with hip flexor muscle tightness exhibit more biceps femoris and adductor magnus and gluteus maximus activation during stance phase of gait. Thus, individuals with hip flexor muscle tightness appear to utilize different neuromuscular strategies to control lower extremity motion.
Iliopsoas tightness, biceps femoris, adductor magnus, gluteus maximus
