Muscle-Specific Contributions to Lower Extremity Net Joint Moments While Squatting With Different External Loads

Kipp, K, Kim, H, and Wolf, WI. Muscle-specific contributions to lower extremity net joint moments while squatting with different external loads. J Strength Cond Res 36(2): 324-331, 2022-The purpose of this study was to determine muscle-specific contributions to lower extremity net joint moments (NJMs) during squats with different external loads. Nine healthy subjects performed sets of the back squat exercise with 0, 25, 50, and 75% of body mass as an added external load. Motion capture and force plate data were used to calculate NJMs and to estimate individual muscle forces via static optimization. Individual muscle forces were multiplied by their respective moment arms to calculate the resulting muscle-specific joint moment. Statistical parametric mapping (alpha = 0.05) was used to determine load-dependent changes in the time series data of NJMs and muscle-specific joint moments. Hip, knee, and ankle NJMs all increased across each load condition. The joint extension moments created by the gluteus maximus and hamstring muscles at the hip, by the vastii muscles at the knee, and by the soleus at the ankle all increased across most load conditions. Concomitantly, the flexion moment created by the hamstring muscles at the knee also increased across most load conditions. However, the ratio between joint moments created by the vastii and hamstring muscles at the knee did not change across load. Similarly, the ratio between joint moments created by the gluteus maximus and hamstring muscles at the hip did not change across load. Collectively, the results highlight how individual muscles contribute to NJMs, identify which muscles contribute to load-dependent increases in NJMs, and suggest that joint moment production among synergistic and antagonistic muscles remains constant as external load increases.

Automated summary

The purpose of this study was to determine the muscle-specific contributions to lower extremity net joint moments during squats with different external loads. The results showed that the net joint moments at the hip, knee, and ankle all increased with higher loads. Some muscles also had increased contribution to joint moments with higher loads, but the ratio between joint moments created by certain muscle pairs did not change at the knee joint.