The effects of tactile and verbal cues on hip extension strength and broad jump distance

Abstract

Purpose: Several studies have demonstrated the effects of verbal and tactile cues on upper extremity muscle strength, while relatively few examined lower extremity muscles, specifically the gluteals. The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of verbal and tactile cues on gluteal strength and broad jump distance. Methods: 42 participants between the age of 18-35 were recruited (22 male, 20 female). Participants received a tactile cue or verbal cue during prone hip extension and standing broad jump in a randomized order. Gluteus maximus strength was measured using handheld dynamometry. Verbal cues included "push, push, push" prior to both tests. Tactile cues included manual contact to the gluteus maximus by the researcher prior to strength testing, and by the participant prior to broad jumps. Results: Verbal cues increased hip extension strength by 13.5%, and both verbal and tactile cues resulted in significant increases in broad jump distance (4% and 3% respectively), with no significant differences observed between male and female participants in either condition. All measures showed high reliability (0.97-0.99). Conclusion: Both females and males significantly benefited from the use of cueing during hip extension and standing broad jump. These results have implications for clinical testing and athletic performance when gluteus maximus strength and jump distance are concerned. The primary limitation of this study was potential fatigue. Further research into the effects of verbal and tactile cueing could include a broader population and other outcomes that target the gluteus maximus including actual sport performance.