Comparison between the perception of physical education professionals and the scientific literature on the muscle activation of the gluteus maximus muscle in different physical exercises

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the perception of Physical Education professionals with the scientific literature in relation to the best exercises for activating the Gluteus Maximus (GM) muscle. To this, a research was carried out in the databases in order to find scientific studies and list the physical exercises that presented the greatest electromyographic activations of the GM muscle. Afterwards, 36 Physical Education professionals answered an online questionnaire expressing their perception about which physical exercises present greater activation of the GM muscle. The literature presents the Step-Up with the greatest muscle activation in the GM, however, according to professionals, the Step-up is just in fifth place. It is concluded that the perception of Physical Education professionals differs from the scientific literature on which physical exercise presents greater electromyographic activation of the GM muscle. However, due to the methodological variability found in the literature to evaluate the muscle activation of the GM, as well as a possible lack of knowledge of those evaluated about the information obtained through the electromyography technique and its possible conclusions, the comparison between the scientific literature and the professionals' perception of Physical Education interviewed about which physical exercise presents greater activation of the GM muscle is impaired.