Effects of Barbell Squats with Asymmetric Loading on the Joint Moment and Muscle Activity of Lower Limbs
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This study aimed to investigate the effects of barbell squats with asymmetric loading on bilateral joint moments and muscle activity of the lower limbs. Twenty fitness athletes were recruited to perform squats under five different conditions. The peak moments in the sagittal plane of the hip and knee joints and the root mean square (RMS) of the gluteus maximus, rectus femoris, and semitendinosus muscles were analyzed bilaterally in the lower limbs, and symmetry was assessed bilaterally using the symmetry index (SI). In the non-dominant side 10% offset load (10%NDOL), the difference in the RMS and moments between the dominant and non-dominant sides was not significant (p > 0.05). Compared with the symmetrical load (SL), the hip and knee SIM, gluteus maximus, rectus femoris, and semitendinosus SIRMS were significantly lower on the non-dominant side 5% offset loads (5%NDOL) and 10% NDOL (p < 0.05), and the 10% offset load compared to the 5% offset load difference was significantly lower (p < 0.01). The NDOL reduced the differences in joint moments and muscle activity bilaterally in the lower limbs, with a 10% offset load being more favorable, and the limb SI was significantly negatively correlated with the amount of the offset load in the NDOL. The non-dominant side offset squats are beneficial for balancing muscle strength bilaterally in the lower limbs and improving bilateral strength asymmetry.
Source: Journal of Human Kinetics
DOI: 10.5114/jhk/202020
Authors: Peirong Liu, Yongjie Li, Boya Zhang, Wenqiang Weng, Duo Li, Yong Ma, Weitao Zheng
Institutions: Wuhan Sports University, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: Biomedical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4414425573