Electromyographic and Force Plate Analysis of the Deadlift Performed With and Without Chains

• Published in: Journal of strength and conditioning research Vol. 30; no. 5; pp. 1177 - 1182
• Main Authors: Nijem, Ramsey M, Coburn, Jared W, Brown, Lee E, Lynn, Scott K, Ciccone, Anthony B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Copyright by the National Strength & Conditioning Association 01-05-2016; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Ovid Technologies
• Subjects: Adult; Electromyography; Exercise; Exercise Test - instrumentation; Humans; Male; Muscular system; Paraspinal Muscles - physiology; Quadriceps Muscle - physiology; Resistance Training - instrumentation; Resistance Training - methods; Sports training; Weight Lifting - physiology; Weight-Bearing - physiology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1064-8011; 1533-4287
• DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001351

ABSTRACTNijem, RM, Coburn, JW, Brown, LE, Lynn, SK, and Ciccone, AB. Electromyographic and force plate analysis of the deadlift performed with and without chains. J Strength Cond Res 30(5)1177–1182, 2016—The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of deadlift chain variable resistance on surface electromyography (EMG) of the gluteus maximus, erector spinae, and vastus lateralis muscles, ground reaction forces (GRFs), and rate of force development (RFD). Thirteen resistance-trained men (24.0 ± 2.1 years, 179.3 ± 4.8 cm, 87.0 ± 10.6 kg) volunteered for the study. On day 1, subjects performed 1 repetition maximum (1RM) testing of the deadlift exercise. On day 2, subjects performed one set of 3 repetitions with a load of 85% 1RM with chains (CH) and without chains (NC). The order of the CH and NC conditions was randomly determined for each subject. For the CH condition, the chains accounted for approximately 20% (19.9 ± 0.6%) of the 85% 1RM load, matched at the top of the lift. Surface EMG was recorded to differentiate muscle activity between conditions (CH, NC), range of motion (ROM; bottom, top), and phase (concentric, eccentric). Peak GRFs and RFD were measured using a force plate. Electromyography results revealed that for the gluteus maximus there was significantly greater EMG activity during the NC condition vs. the CH condition. For the erector spinae, EMG activity was greater at the bottom than the top ROM (p ≤ 0.05). Force plate results revealed that deadlifting at 85% 1RM with an accommodating chain resistance of approximately 20% results in a reduction in GRFs (p ≤ 0.05) and no change in RFD (p > 0.05). Collectively, these results suggest that the use of chain resistance during deadlifting can alter muscle activation and force characteristics of the lift.