Gluteus Medius (right) — SENIAM EMG Electrode Placement

Recording notes & source

per Criswell 2011, site „Gluteus Medius“, p. 356

Placement type: Specific site The signal originates predominantly from this muscle.
Signal check: Abduct the leg side-lying or standing sideways against a wall; single-leg stance; walking.
Crosstalk from: gluteus maximus · erector spinae

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 Medius (Gluteus Medius) is a muscle of the hip region. It is responsible for hip abduction, pelvic stabilization in single-leg stance (Trendelenburg), anterior fibers: internal rotation, posterior fibers: external rotation. 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 abduction, pelvic stabilization in single-leg stance (Trendelenburg), anterior fibers: internal rotation, posterior fibers: external rotation Origin Gluteal surface of the Os ilium (between anterior and posterior gluteal lines) Insertion Greater trochanter of the femur (lateral surface) Innervation Superior gluteal nerve, L5–S1

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 abduction in side-lying against resistance

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

MVC reference test (Konrad 2005)

Position: Side-lying with fixed pelvis, or supine; hip abduction. Some subjects reach higher values standing.
Fixation: Pelvis fixed with a belt or manually.
Resistance: Manual resistance or belt against the lateral thigh, abduction against it.
Control exercise: Compare side-lying, supine and standing; take the highest.

Konrad: the hip abduction can be performed in fixed side-lying or supine position.

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 Medius 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 Medius 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 Medius?

50% on line between iliac crest and greater trochanter. Orientation: Parallel to line iliac crest-greater trochanter. Based on the official SENIAM recommendations (Hermens et al. 2000).

Which test movement activates the M. Gluteus Medius?

Hip abduction in side-lying against resistance. This movement is part of the SENIAM protocol for standardized contraction verification.

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

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

M. Gluteus Medius

Electrode Placement (SENIAM)