Table 3. Comparison of Gluteus maximus (GMax) activation for all exercise variations. Classification of muscle activation is givens as low (0-20% MVIC), moderate (21-40% MVIC), high (41-60% MVIC) and very high (>60% MVIC). Values are given as mean or the average of pooled mean of maximum voluntary isometric contraction percentage (%MVIC) and the standard deviation.
Classification |
Level of activation |
Exercise |
Average (%MVIC) |
1º |
Very high |
Step-Up |
169.22 ± 101.47 |
2° |
Very high |
Lateral Step-Up |
114.25 ± 54.74 |
3° |
Very high |
Diagonal Step-Up |
113.21 ± 43.54 |
4° |
Very high |
Crossover Step-up |
104.19 ± 33.63 |
5° |
Very high |
Hex Bar Deadlift |
88 ± 16 |
6° |
Very high |
Rotation Barbell Hip Thrust |
86.18 ± 34.3 |
7° |
Very high |
Traditional Barbell Hip Thrust |
82.37 ± 18.65 (Lower GM: 69.5/Upper GM: 86.7) |
8° |
Very high |
American Barbell Hip Thrust |
73.65 ± 22.98 (Lower GM: 57.4 ± 34.8/ Upper GM: 89.9 ± 32.4) |
9° |
Very high |
Belt Squat |
71.34 ± 29.42 |
10° |
Very high |
Split Squat |
70 ± 15 |
11° |
Very high |
In-line Lunge |
67 ± 11 |
12° |
Very high |
Traditional Lunge |
66 ± 13 |
13° |
Very high |
Pull Barbell Hip Thrust |
65.87 ± 23.28 |
14° |
Very high |
Modified Single-leg Squat |
65.6 ± 15.1 |
15° |
Very high |
Traditional Deadlift |
64.50 ± 41.72 |
16° |
Very high |
Band Hip Thrust |
64.2 ± 21.21 (Lower GM: 49.2 ± 26.5/ Upper GM: 79.2 ± 29.9) |
17° |
High |
Parallel Back Squat |
59.76 ± 22.52 |
18° |
High |
Feet-away Barbell Hip Thrust |
51.38±17.93 |
19º |
High |
Front Squat |
40.54 ± 4.73 |
20° |
High |
Stiff-Leg Deadlift |
40.5 ± 18.8 |
21° |
Moderate |
Overhead Squat |
39.75 ± 29.91 |
22° |
Moderate |
Sumo Deadlift |
37 ± 28 |
23° |
Moderate |
Partial Back Squat |
28.16 ± 10.35 |
24° |
Moderate |
Full Back Squat |
26.56 ± 12.33 |