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Force Production and Electromyographic Activity during Different Flywheel Deadlift Exercises
Sergio Maroto-Izquierdo1,2, David García-López3, Marco Beato4,5
1i+HeALTH Strategic Research Group, Department of Health Sciences, European University Miguel de Cervantes, 47012 Valladolid, Spain.
Sports (Basel, Switzerland)
|April 26, 2024
Summary
Vertical flywheel deadlifts generate greater force and muscle activation than horizontal versions. Bilateral and unilateral vertical flywheel deadlifts enhance hamstring engagement, with unilateral vertical variants also boosting gluteus medius and semitendinosus activity.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Exercise Physiology
- Sports Science
Background:
- Flywheel training offers variable resistance, enhancing strength and power.
- Understanding exercise variations is crucial for optimizing training protocols.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare force production and muscle activity in bilateral vs. unilateral flywheel deadlifts under vertical vs. horizontal loading.
- To determine the effectiveness of different flywheel deadlift variations for muscle engagement.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-three team-sport athletes performed four flywheel deadlift variations: bilateral/unilateral with vertical/horizontal loading.
- Measurements included hand-grip force (kinetics) and surface electromyography (sEMG) of biceps femoris (proximal and medial), semitendinosus, and gluteus medius.
- Statistical analysis compared mean and peak force, eccentric overload, and sEMG levels across conditions.
Main Results:
- Bilateral vertical (Bi + Ver) deadlifts produced the highest mean and peak forces.
- Vertical loading variants (Bi + Ver, Uni + Ver) demonstrated eccentric overload.
- Vertical flywheel deadlifts generally yielded higher muscle activity (sEMG) in hamstrings and glutes compared to horizontal variants, with unilateral vertical (Uni + Ver) showing the greatest gluteus medius and semitendinosus activation.
Conclusions:
- Vertical flywheel deadlift loading elicits superior force production and muscle activation compared to horizontal loading.
- Both bilateral and unilateral vertical flywheel deadlifts can enhance hamstring muscle force and activity at longer muscle lengths.
- The unilateral vertical flywheel deadlift may be particularly effective for targeting gluteus medius and semitendinosus activation.
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