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. 2022 Feb 8;19(3):1903.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph19031903.

An Electromyographic Analysis of Romanian, Step-Romanian, and Stiff-Leg Deadlift: Implication for Resistance Training

Giuseppe Coratella  1 , Gianpaolo Tornatore  1 , Stefano Longo  1 , Fabio Esposito  1   2 , Emiliano Cè  1   2
Affiliations

An Electromyographic Analysis of Romanian, Step-Romanian, and Stiff-Leg Deadlift: Implication for Resistance Training

Giuseppe Coratella et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

The present study examined the posterior chain muscle excitation in different deadlift variations. Ten competitive bodybuilders (training seniority of 10.6 ± 1.8 years) performed the Romanian (RD), Romanian standing on a step (step-RD), and stiff-leg deadlift (SD) with an 80% 1-RM. The excitation of the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, erector spinae longissimus, and iliocostalis was assessed during both the ascending and descending phases. During the ascending phase, the RMS of the gluteus maximus was greater in the step-RD than in the RD (effect size (ES): 1.70, 0.55/2.84) and SD (ES: 1.18, 0.11/2.24). Moreover, a greater RMS was found in the SD than in the RD (ES: 0.99, 0.04/1.95). The RMS of the semitendinosus was greater in the step-RD than in the RD (ES: 0.82, 0.20/1.44) and SD (ES: 3.13, 1.67/4.59). Moreover, a greater RMS was found in the RD than in the SD (ES: 1.38, 0.29/2.48). The RMS of the longissimus was greater in the step-RD than in the RD (ES: 2.12, 0.89/3.34) and SD (ES: 3.28, 1.78/4.78). The descending phase had fewer differences between the exercises. No further differences between the exercises were found. The step-RD increased the overall excitation of the posterior chain muscles, possibly because of the greater range of movement and posterior muscle elongation during the anterior flexion. Moreover, the RD appeared to target the semitendinosus more than the SD, while the latter excited the gluteus maximus more.

Keywords: electromyography; erector spinae; gluteus; hamstrings; muscle activation; muscle excitation; strength training; weight training.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The technique for Romanian, step-Romanian and stiff-leg deadlift is shown.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Normalized root means squares of gluteus maximus and gluteus medius shown for each exercise and phase. a = p < 0.05 vs. RD; c = p < 0.05 vs. SD.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Normalized root means squares of biceps femoris and semitendinosus shown for each exercise and phase. a = p < 0.05 vs. RD; c = p < 0.05 vs. SD.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Normalized root means squares of erector spinae longissimus and iliocostalis shown for each exercise and phase. a = p < 0.05 vs. RD; c = p < 0.05 vs. SD.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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