Quadriceps and gluteus medius activity during stable and unstable loading exercises in athletes. A cross-sectional study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the muscle activation of the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, and gluteus medius during different strength and stability exercises with a water tank compared with a sandbag. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Functional Anatomy Laboratory, and the sample consisted of 28 athletes. The main outcome measures were surface electromyography (dependent variable), water tank and sandbag, and exercise type (independent variables): Isometric Single Leg Stance (ISLS), One Leg Deadlift (OLDL), Front Rack Forward Lunge (FRFL), and Lateral Lunge (LL). Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed a significant Group x Time interaction in gluteus medius root mean square (RMS) (F = 14.198, p < 0.001, eta 2 = 0.35), vastus lateralis RMS (F = 24.374, p < 0.001, eta 2 = 0.47), and vastus medialis RMS (F = 27.261, p < 0.001, eta 2 = 0.50). In the between-group analysis, statistically significant differences were observed in gluteus medius RMS in the ISLS: 28.5 +/- 15.8 water tank and 20.8 +/- 12.6 sandbag (p < 0.001, eta 2 = 0.08) and OLDL: 29.7 +/- 13.3 water tank and 26.5 +/- 13.1 sandbag (p < 0.001, eta 2 = 0.01). In vastus lateralis in ISLS: 30.4 +/- 37.6 water tank and 19.0 +/- 26.7 sandbag (p < 0.001, eta 2 = 0.03). In vastus medialis in ISLS: 14.2 +/- 13.0 water tank and 7.0 +/- 5.6 sandbag (p < 0.001, eta 2 = 0.12), OLDL: 21.5 +/- 16.9 water tank and 15.5 +/- 10.7 sandbag (p = 0.002, eta 2 = 0.04), and LL: 51.8 +/- 29.6 water tank and 54.3 +/- 29.3 sandbag (p = 0.017, eta 2 = 0.00). These results confirm significantly greater activation of the gluteus medius and vastus medialis in the ISLS and OLDL exercises, and of the vastus lateralis in the water tank ISLS exercise. However, the vastus medialis shows greater activation in the LL exercise.