Gluteal Activation Plus Movement Retraining

Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine if an isometric gluteal activation home exercise program (HEP) combined with a movement retraining program utilizing feedback cues produces significant changes in scores on the Forward Step-Down Test (FSDT) in healthy young adults with movement coordination impairments.

Aim 1: To determine if an isometric gluteal activation HEP with a movement retraining program with feedback cues produces significant changes on scores FSDT compared to the gluteal activation HEP alone.

Aim 2: To determine if an isometric gluteal activation HEP followed with a movement retraining program with feedback cues produces significant changes on category FSDT compared to gluteal activation HEP alone.

Aim 3: To determine if an isometric gluteal activation HEP with a movement retraining program with feedback cues produces changes in the peak activation of the gluteus medius (GMed) and gluteus maximus (GMax) during the FSDT compared to the gluteal activation HEP alone.

Aim 4: To determine if an isometric gluteal activation HEP with a movement retraining program with feedback cues produces changes in the mean activation of the GMed and GMax during the FSDT compared to the gluteal activation HEP alone.

Aim 5: To determine if HEP dose has an effect on the FSDT response, as measured by change in score on the FSDT.

Conditions

• Movement, Abnormal
• Lower Extremity Problem

Interventions

OTHER

Control HEP focusing on isometric gluteal activation

All participants will receive the HEP for hip muscle activation training. The HEP for hip musculature activation consists of five isolated hip activation exercises including side-lying clams, side-lying clams with trunk activation via side-plank, side-lying hip abduction, side-lying hip abduction with trunk activation via side-plank, and fire hydrants all of which improve hip gluteal recruitment. After the 4th week, both groups are to return to the clinic and asked to briefly perform exercises from their HEP so that their form can be reassessed with any modifications if needed along with any questions that they may have. Each participant following the 8-week period will be scheduled to return to the clinic to turn in their compliance form and perform follow-up surface electromyography (sEMG), weight, and FSDT using the same procedures as before.

OTHER

Experimental HEP focusing on isometric gluteal activation plus a movement retaining program

Only participants in the experimental group will receive the movement retraining program HEP. The HEP will be a combination of single leg Romanian Deadlift (RDL), single leg squat, and standing split squat that have been used in previous research and are proved to get significant gluteus medius (Gmed) activation. They will also participate in the gluteal activation HEP program that have been proved to increase hip musculature recruitment, as performed by the control group. After the 4th week, both groups are to return to the clinic and asked to briefly perform exercises from their HEP so that their form can be reassessed with any modifications if needed along with any questions that they may have. Each participant following the 8-week period will be scheduled to return to the clinic to turn in their compliance form and perform follow-ups sEMG, weight, and FSDT using the same procedures as before.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Erin McCallister, PT, DPT · LSU Health Sciences Center at Shreveport

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-01-07

Primary Completion

2026-04-30

Completion

2026-08-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations