Gluteus Maximus (left) — SENIAM EMG Electrode Placement

Recording notes & source

per Criswell 2011, site „Gluteus Maximus“, p. 353

Placement type: Specific site The signal originates predominantly from this muscle.
Signal check: Prone or standing (hands on the wall), extend the leg backwards; alternatively stair stepping, sit-to-stand, external rotation of the thigh.
Crosstalk from: usually not a problem per Criswell
Artefacts: A thick fat pad attenuates the signal; electrode slippage and movement artefact during walking.

The position above follows SENIAM; the crosstalk and artefact notes apply to surface recording of this muscle in general.

Print as a session sheet · A4 with landmarks, signal check and MVC test

Source: SENIAM (Hermens 2000) ↗

Hermens HJ, Freriks B, Disselhorst-Klug C, Rau G. Development of recommendations for SEMG sensors and sensor placement procedures. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2000;10(5):361-74.

Based on SENIAM recommendations (Hermens et al. 2000). Not an official SENIAM product. See all references → · SENIAM reference table · How electrodes are placed (guide) · Glossary

Go deeper Which Muscles Cannot Be Measured With Surface EMG — and Why → MVC Normalisation — Why Microvolts Alone Say Nothing →

All 49 muscle protocols as a PDF — free

Print-ready for the lab or clinic: 77 pages of protocols (SENIAM + peer-reviewed), plus the SENIAM table, a placement checklist and a sensor comparison sheet as A4 sheets.

Anatomy & Function

The M. Gluteus Maximus (Gluteus Maximus) is a muscle of the hip region. It is responsible for hip extension and external rotation, pelvic stabilization, trunk erection. This muscle is one of 26 with official SENIAM-recommended surface EMG electrode placement. This page documents the exact electrode position, anatomical attachments and a standardized test movement based on Hermens et al. (2000).

Function Hip extension and external rotation, pelvic stabilization, trunk erection Origin Os sacrum (dorsal), Os ilium (behind posterior gluteal line), sacrotuberous ligament, thoracolumbar fascia Insertion Iliotibial tract, gluteal tuberosity of the femur Innervation Inferior gluteal nerve, L5–S2

Innervation after Perotto AO, Anatomical Guide for the Electromyographer, 5th ed. 2011 — an anatomical reference, not an electrode placement recommendation.

Clinical applications (SENIAM)

Hip rehabilitation after arthroplasty
Gluteus medius weakness in runners
Trendelenburg sign EMG analysis

Test Movement

Hip extension from prone position against resistance with flexed knee

Detail: sensor on the M. Gluteus Maximus — Illustration shows the left side; the set-up is mirrored for the right side.

MVC reference test (Konrad 2005)

Position: Prone, hip hyperextension of about 20° with slightly outward-rotated leg; test with extended and with flexed knee.
Fixation: Pelvis fixed on the bench.
Resistance: Manual resistance or belt against the back of the thigh, hip extension against it.
Control exercise: The prone erector spinae test is the control exercise for the gluteus maximus.

Konrad: the hyperextension position (~20°) is important; perform both knee positions.

Konrad P. The ABC of EMG. Noraxon; 2005, p. 32. Konrad describes this test at group level; it applies to all muscles of the group. · Why and how to normalise to MVC

Measure M. Gluteus Maximus activity live

The electrode is placed — what next? easyEMG visualises muscle activity in real time, with SENIAM-compliant placement guidance, up to 4 channels at once and biofeedback training right afterwards.

In rehabilitation, the Gluteus Maximus is typically recorded to track progress and retrain activation.

EMG biofeedback in physiotherapy → What is EMG biofeedback? PicoBlue sensors

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I place the EMG electrode on the M. Gluteus Maximus?

50% on line between sacrum and greater trochanter. Orientation: Along the line posterior superior iliac spine–middle of the posterior thigh. Based on the official SENIAM recommendations (Hermens et al. 2000).

Which test movement activates the M. Gluteus Maximus?

Hip extension from prone position against resistance with flexed knee. This movement is part of the SENIAM protocol for standardized contraction verification.

Is the M. Gluteus Maximus a SENIAM-recommended muscle?

Yes. The M. Gluteus Maximus is one of 26 muscles for which the SENIAM project has published official surface EMG electrode placement recommendations.

M. Gluteus Maximus

Electrode Placement (SENIAM)