The purpose of this study was to measure the relative contributions of 4 hip and thigh muscles while performing squats at 3 depths. Ten experienced lifters performed randomized trials of squats at partial, parallel, and full depths, using 100-125% of body weight as resistance. Electromyographic (EMG) surface electrodes were placed on the vastus medialis (VMO), the vastus lateralis, (VL), the biceps femoris (BF), and the gluteus maximus (GM). EMG data were quantified by integration and expressed as a percentage of the total electrical activity of the 4 muscles. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey post hoc tests indicated a significant difference (p < 0.001*, p = 0.056**) in the relative contribution of the GM during the concentric phases among the partial- (16.9%*), parallel- (28.0%**), and full-depth (35.4%*) squats. There were no significant differences between the relative contributions of the BF, the VMO, and the VL at different squatting depths during this phase. The results suggest that the GM, rather than the BF, the VMO, or the VL, becomes more active in concentric contraction as squat depth increases.

We also thank all the athletes, families, coaches, athletic trainers, medical providers, school staff, state associations, researchers, journalists, and others who have participated in this research and have shared information with the NCCSIR.

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The purpose of this study was to test the effect of acute thermal hypohydration on the muscle endurance performance of three groups of differentially trained subjects. Group I consisted of six anaerobically trained athletes, Group II consisted of five aerobically trained athletes, and Group III consisted of six sedentary individuals. Experimental trials involved maximal leg extensions performed on a Cybex II dynamometer under conditions of euhydration and hypohydration of minus 3% body weight. Integrated electromyographic data were also collected during each trial to factor out motivation as a variable. The maximum number of leg extension repetitions performed at or above 50% of each subject's peak torque output were compared between treatments and among the three groups. A 2 x 3 factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a significant decrease in muscle endurance when comparing euhydration to hypohydration among the anaerobically trained subjects as well as among the sedentary subjects (P less than 0.05). The aerobically trained subjects showed no significant decline in muscle endurance when comparing performance under both experimental conditions. It was hypothesized that the training adaptations that occur with aerobic conditioning and are primarily associated with increased plasma volume may be the key to explaining these results.

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