How the Matrix Glute Trainer Grows Glutes

This whitepaper analyzes the effectiveness of the Matrix Glute Trainer in glute and hamstring muscle building.

How the Glute Trainer was Designed

When our industrial designers and product engineers teamed up to create the new Glute Trainer, the goal was to target the glutes and hamstrings with an exercise just as effective as hip thrusting without the difficulty and discomfort of using a weighted straight bar.

Matrix commissioned an in-depth study in collaboration with a professional project engineer and a biomechanics consultant to substantiate the benefits of our design.

Drawing on scientifically validated testing procedures, our experts confirmed that the Glute Trainer targets the glutes and hamstrings more effectively than a traditional hip-thrust exercise with a weighted straight bar.

Scientifically Validated Methods of the Matrix Glute Trainer

To begin, our experts enlisted six participants — three men and three women — who were injury-free and familiar with hip-thrust exercises using a weighted straight bar. Each participant had a total of 12 EMG sensors applied to the major muscles of their quads (rectus femoris, vastus medialis and vastus lateralis), hamstrings (biceps femoris) and glutes (gluteus maximus and gluteus medius) to measure muscle activation via electromyography. We also fitted participants with 22 reflective nodes to be used with an accredited motion capture program, ensuring that movement patterns and participant form was consistent for each trial.

Next, we asked participants to complete a maximum voluntary contraction of each of the major muscle groups listed above. With this upper limit established for each participant, our experts could measure the amount of relative muscle activation created by each training method and compare.

Conditions and Testing for the Matrix Glute Trainer

Participants were instructed to perform approximately 30 seconds of exercise with the Glute Trainer and the weighted straight bar under three different conditions: at 25 pounds (11.3 kilograms) for both male and female participants; at 35 pounds (15.9 kilograms) for female participants and 45 pounds (20.4 kilograms) for male participants; and at 25 pounds for both male and female participants with a resistance band around the knees to encourage abduction of the knees and thereby better activation of the glutes.

Two trials were completed for each condition with rest in between to ensure the accuracy of the results. Our experts also distinguished between the muscles that were the primary movers for the hip-thrust motion (glutes and hamstrings) and the muscles that were in a stabilizing role (quads). They then used motion capture technology in coordination with EMG sensors to measure the muscle activation of the primary movers at the start, peak and end of the hip-thrust motion. With these data points, they were able to determine the average muscle activation for each rep.

Read the full whitepaper to explore the science supporting the Matrix Glute Trainer. View here