[Hip abduction force measured by a new method and its relation to EMG activity]

I measured hip abduction force using a new device of my own design and evaluated the correlation between hip abduction force and electromyographic (EMG) activity of the gluteus medius, gluteus maximus, rectus femoris and adductor longus in 20 normal adults. Hip abduction force showed a maximum value on starting and decreased during abduction of the hip joint. Durability, on the other hand, showed an increase. The attenuation curve was approximated to the exponential function A.e-Kt; A and l/k indicating maximum hip abduction force and durability, respectively. Maximum hip abduction force was about 20 kg and durability was about 160 seconds on starting hip abduction. The regression coefficient between hip abduction force and EMG activity of the gluteus medius, gluteus maximus, rectus femoris and adductor longus was 1.5, 06, 0.6 and 0.2 respectively. From these results, I concluded that although the gluteus medius plays the major role in hip abduction, the rectus femoris and gluteus maximus may act as stabilizers for maintaining the position of hip abduction.