Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 24, 2025
The Transition to an Anterior-Based Muscle Sparing Approach Improves Early Postoperative Function but is Associated with a Learning Curve
Published on: September 7, 2022
Hip abduction machine is better than free weights to target the gluteus medius while minimizing tensor fascia latae
Isabel de Almeida Paz1, Michele Fernandes Frigotto2, Charles Alexandre Cardoso3
1Exercise Research Laboratory, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Physical Therapy Department, Sogipa College, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Introduction:
Changes in the lower extremities' biomechanics are associated with gluteus medius (GMed) weakness and increased tensor fascia latae (TFL) activation.
Objective:
To determine which exercises produce greater GMed activity while minimizing TFL activation during the concentric and eccentric phases of three single-joint strengthening exercises.
Design:
Controlled laboratory study.
Setting:
Laboratory.
Participants:
Eleven males (age: 29.18 ± 4.51 years; body mass: 84.01 ± 14.48 kg; height: 1.74 ± 0.07 m; body fat: 16.34 ± 3.33%).
Main Outcome Measures:
GMed and TFL activation and activation ratio while performing ten maximal repetitions of three exercises: side-lying hip abduction (SLHA); clamshell (CLAM) and hip abductor machine (HAM).
Results:
GMed activation was greater than TFL in all exercises in both concentric and eccentric phases. There were no differences in GMed activation between the three exercises in both phases. TFL activation was greater in SLHA compared to HAM and CLAM during both phases. In both concentric and eccentric phases, GMed:TFL ratio was greater in HAM compared to CLAM and SLHA.
Conclusions:
GMed had increased activation compared to TFL in all analyzed exercises. Considering GMed:TFL ratio, if the goal is to preferentially activate GMed while minimizing TFL activation, the hip abductor machine seems to be the best exercise.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:20Muscles that Move the Thigh
Three other significant muscles are the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and gluteus minimus. The gluteus maximus originates from the posterior surface of the ilium, sacrum, and coccyx, and the thoracolumbar...
01:23Muscles that Move the Leg
Anterior Compartment
The quadriceps femoris, the most visible muscle of the anterior compartment, is integral for leg extension and thigh flexion. It is formed by merging four distinct muscles — the vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, vastus intermedius, and rectus femoris. The quadriceps tendon, a shared tendon of the four quadriceps muscles, is affixed...