title: Relationship between gluteal muscle strength, corticospinal excitability, and jump-landing biomechanics in healthy women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Components of gluteal neuromuscular function, such as strength and corticospinal excitability, could potentially influence alterations in lower extremity biomechanics during jump landing.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the relationship between gluteal muscle strength, gluteal corticospinal excitability, and jump-landing biomechanics in healthy women.
  
  
  METHODS
  University laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive laboratory study.
  
  
  METHODS
  37 healthy women (21.08 ± 2.15 y, 164.8 ± 5.9 cm, 65.4 ± 12.0 kg).
  
  
  METHODS
  Bilateral gluteal strength was assessed through maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC) using an isokinetic dynamometer. Strength was tested in the open chain in prone and side-lying positions for the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles, respectively. Transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to elicit measures of corticospinal excitability. Participants then performed 3 trials of jump landing from a 30-cm box to a distance of 50% of their height, with an immediate rebound to a maximal vertical jump. Each jump-landing trial was video recorded (2-D) and later scored for errors.
  
  
  METHODS
  MVICs normalized to body mass were used to assess strength in the gluteal muscles of the dominant and nondominant limbs. Corticospinal excitability was assessed by means of active motor threshold (AMT) and motor-evoked potentials (MEP) elicited at 120% of AMT. The Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) was used to evaluate jump-landing biomechanics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A moderate, positive correlation was found between dominant gluteus maximus MEP and LESS scores (r = .562, P = .029). No other significant correlations were observed for MVIC, AMT, or MEP for the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius, regardless of limb.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest a moderate relationship between dominant gluteus maximus corticospinal excitability and a clinical measure of jump-landing biomechanics. Further research is required to substantiate the findings and expand our understanding of the central nervous system's role in athletic movement.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Kinesiology, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH.
authors.forename: Adam S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lepley
authors.forename: Allison M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Strouse
authors.forename: Hayley M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Ericksen
authors.forename: Kate R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Pfile
authors.forename: Phillip A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Gribble
authors.forename: Brian G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Pietrosimone
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002081:Buttocks; D004576:Electromyography; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D053580:Muscle Strength; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D011712:Pyramidal Tracts / Q000502:physiology*; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation; D014741:Video Recording; D055815:Young Adult