If the spine is poorly stabilized, what might happen during hip extension?

When the spine is poorly stabilized during hip extension, the erector spinae may take on the role of a prime mover. The erector spinae is a group of muscles located along the spine that primarily function to extend and stabilize the back. If the spine lacks stability, these muscles can become overly engaged to compensate for the instability, potentially leading to improper movement patterns.

In this scenario, the gluteus maximus, which is the main muscle responsible for hip extension, may not function effectively if the spine isn't stabilized. The gluteus maximus relies on a stable base from the spine to perform optimally. Therefore, if the erector spinae is compensating excessively, it could hinder the gluteus maximus from executing its primary role, thus illustrating why the erector spinae might inadvertently act as a prime mover in this context.

Understanding this dynamic is crucial for effectively designing rehabilitation or training programs. It emphasizes the importance of spinal stabilization exercises that allow the hip extensors, particularly the gluteus maximus, to fire correctly during movements involving hip extension.