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. 2022 Jun 22;9(7):272.
doi: 10.3390/bioengineering9070272.

Influence of Different Load Conditions on Lower Extremity Biomechanics during the Lunge Squat in Novice Men

Lidong Gao  1 , Zhenghui Lu  1 , Minjun Liang  1   2 , Julien S Baker  3 , Yaodong Gu  1   4
Affiliations

Influence of Different Load Conditions on Lower Extremity Biomechanics during the Lunge Squat in Novice Men

Lidong Gao et al. Bioengineering (Basel). .

Abstract

Objective: The lunge squat is one of the exercises to strengthen the lower limbs, however, there is little evidence of the effects of different equipment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the biomechanical effects of different types of equipment and loads on the lunge squat's effect on the lower limbs.

Methods: Fourteen male fitness novices participated in the experiment. Kinematics and kinetics in the sagittal plane using dumbbells, barbells, and weighted vests were measured using OpenSim. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA and one-dimensional statistical parametric mapping were used in the statistical analysis (SPM1D).

Results: Range of motion (ROM) change in the knee joint was more obvious when using a barbell, whereas ROM when using a dumbbell was minimal. Compared to other joints, the joint moment at the hip joint was the largest and changed more significantly with increasing weight-bearing intensity, and the change was more pronounced with the dumbbell. For the center of pressure (COP) overall displacement, the dumbbell produced a smaller range of displacement.

Conclusions: Dumbbells are suggested for male beginners to improve stability, barbells for the more experienced, and a low-weighted vest may be more appropriate for those with knee pain.

Keywords: OpenSim; kinematic; kinetics; lunge squat; weight bearing.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a): Front, side, and back view of the subject’s reflective markers; (b): vest lunge pose; (c): barbell start pose; (d): dumbbell lunge pose; (e): lunge start pose.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Joint angles and SPM1D results for hip, knee, and ankle at 25% BW and 50% BW. Red: indicates a significant difference between vest and barbell; green: indicates a significant difference between barbell and dumbbell. BW: body weight.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Joint moments and SPM1D results for hip, knee, and ankle at 25% BW and 50% BW. Red: indicates a significant difference between vest and barbell; green: indicates a significant difference between barbell and dumbbell; blue: indicates a significant difference between vest and dumbbell. BW: body weight.
Figure 4
Figure 4
COP motion trajectory at 25% BW and 50% BW. BW: body weight.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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