Context:​ The sport of distance running is highly popular due to the ease of access to the sport, and with this increase in participation, there has also been an increase in injury rate. Recently there has been research suggesting that there may be a benefit to training the specific hip muscles, the gluteus medius (GMed) the and gluteus maximus (GMax) with specific exercises that also limit the contraction of the tensor fasciae latae (TFL). This particular training pattern has been suggested because it supposedly mimics the muscle use that higher trained runners utilize. Currently there has been a call for investigation into this area of research.

Objective:​ The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the amount of hip muscle recruitment among the TFL, the GMed and the GMax within casual and trained runners.

Design:​ Observational experimental design that involved surface electromyography while running.

Setting:​ The study protocol was conducted in a laboratory setting. Participants:​ Eighteen physically active runners (male=9, female=9) were recruited from the campus population and the university distance track/cross country programs.

Interventions:​ Participants were taken through a ten minute running protocol (5 minute warmup, 5 minute testing phase) while running on a treadmill. They ran at a speed consistent with replicating traditional outdoor running. At the end of the testing phase, surface electromyography was used to assess hip muscle activation levels over the course of ten stride lengths.

Main Outcome Measures:​ TFL, GMed and GMax activation levels were recorded and analyzed. The data were compared between the casual running group (5-15 miles/week) and the trained running group (40+ miles/week)

Results:​ There were no significant differences in any of the investigated muscles between the two groups of runners. (TFL:​ p = .153, GMed:​ p = .743, GMax:​ p = .824)

Conclusions:​ Based on the findings that there was no significant difference in either of the hypotheses, it is not recommended to change training or rehabilitation exercise selection to target GMed and GMax strengthening while minimizing TFL strengthening. While was no significant difference between the groups, the difference in means that showed an increase in gluteal muscle group activity in the trained group was consistent with the literature.