Corticomotor Excitability of Gluteus Maximus Is Associated with Hip Biomechanics During a Single-Leg Drop-Jump.

The purpose of this study was to determine the association between corticomotor excitability (CME) of gluteus maximus (GM) and hip biomechanics during a single-leg drop-jump task. Thirty-two healthy individuals participated. The slope of the input-output curve (IOC) obtained from transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to assess CME of GM. The average hip extensor moment and peak hip flexion angle during the stance phase of the drop jump task was calculated. The slope of the IOC of GM was found to be a predictor of the average hip extensor moment (r = 0.18,  = 0.016) and peak hip flexion angle (r = 0.20,  = 0.01). Our results demonstrate that greater functional use of the hip was associated with enhanced descending neural drive of GM.