Abstract
Variations of the deadlift can be executed using the hexagonal (hex) bar by altering, for instance, the knee and torso angles while maintaining a constant hip angle at the start position. PURPOSE: To examine muscle activation patterns of the biceps femoris, rectus femoris, and erector spinae during three deadlift variations using the hex bar. METHODS: Twenty resistance-trained male and female subjects performed hex bar deadlift variations in three different starting knee flexion positions: 128.4 ± 8.5° (elevated Romanian Deadlift), 111.9 ± 8.7° (conventional elevated deadlift), and 98.3 ± 6.5° (conventional hexagonal bar deadlift). Subjects performed three repetitions at 75% of their three-repetition maximum. Electromyography sensors were placed on the dominant biceps femoris, rectus femoris, and lumbar erector spinae. A one-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to detect differences in mean and peak EMG values normalized to maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) (pRESULTS: As knee flexion increased at the starting position, mean activation of the rectus femoris increased (24.7±21.5 to 35.5±25.4 to 62.1±31.3% MVIC, pCONCLUSIONS: Practitioners should consider the muscular goals when adjusting the starting position of a hex bar deadlift as posterior chain recruitment diminished and quadriceps activation increased as knee flexion increased.
Recommended Citation
McCauley, Meghan; Rivera, Jennifer; Leyva, Whitney D.; Tomlinson, Kalin A.; Valenzuela, Kevin A.; Zeitz, Elisabeth; and Jo, Edward Dr.
(2021)
"Electromyographic Examination of Hip and Knee Extension Hex Bar Exercises Varied by Starting Knee and Torso Angles,"
International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 14:
Iss.
1, Article 38.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol14/iss1/38
Included in
Health and Physical Education Commons, Medical Education Commons, Sports Sciences Commons