Fiber Type Training

The Most Effective Way to Work the Glutes

BY BRET CONTRERAS, MS, CSCS
TUESDAY. 16 JUNE 2015

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The glutes are the powerhouse of the human body. Theyre essential for running faster, jumping
higher, throwing farther and lifting heavier. Therefore, its obvious that the gluteus maximus consists of
a very high percentage offast-twitch muscle fibers, right? Think again.
Two studies have examined the fiber type percentage of the gluteus maximus. One study showed that the
gluteus maximus is composed of 68 percent slow-twitch and 32 percent fast-twitch fibers, while the other
study found 52 percent slow-twitch and 48 percent fast-twitch fibers. 1,2 Other research suggests that the
upper gluteus maximus fibers consist of a greater percentage of slow-twitch fibers compared to those of
the lower gluteus maximus.3 As you can see, the gluteus maximus is not a fast-twitch muscle.

Effective Training
The logical questions that follow are, does this information impact the way we best train the glutes, and if
so, how? Unfortunately, there are no studies to my knowledge examining the effects of different forms of
training on gluteal hypertrophy. Therefore, Im going to rely on logic and anecdotes based on my
experiences as a personal trainer in order to advise you. I believe that the fiber composition of the gluteus
maximus indicates that we should train glutes via heavy low-rep training, moderate medium-rep training
and light high-rep training.
Lifting heavy weights leads to high levels of muscle activation. This is indicative of greater tension on
the gluteus maximus, which is a primary driver of muscle hypertrophy. Therefore, if you go heavier on
exercises such as squats and deadlifts, your glutes will attain an efficient stimulus for muscular growth.
However, if this were all you did, youd be leaving a lot of room on the table for increased gluteal shape. It
is also important to keep in mind that lifting heavier loads is more risky. Since you wont be able to build
your glutes if you injure yourself, you need to make sure your form is really solid before jumping into
heavier training.
Lifting lighter weight for higher reps to failure also leads to high levels of muscle activation, though not
quite as high as that of heavier weight.4 Moreover, lifting lighter weights to failure has been shown to lead
to slightly greater hypertrophy in the slow-twitch muscle fibers compared to heavy weights. 5 If you want to
maximize gluteal hypertrophy, you cannot ignore the slow-twitch fibers, especially since they account for
more than 50 percent of the total glute fibers. It is true that the slow-twitch fibers cannot grow as large as
fast-twitch fibers, but that doesnt mean that slow-twitch fiber growth is insignificant. In fact, its one big
reason why bodybuilders are more muscular than powerlifters.
Some exercises are simply better suited for medium or high reps. For example, lunges, hip thrusts, cable
kickbacks, back extensions and various hip abduction exercises dont lend themselves very well to a
one-rep maximum lift. These exercises are best done in medium to higher rep ranges. You should
regularly go all out using lighter loads for approximately 20-30 reps in your glute training, since this leads
to high levels of metabolic stressin the glutes. Metabolic stress is another primary driver of muscle

hypertrophy, so in addition to experiencing high levels of tension in the glutes, you should regularly feel
the burn and achieve a glute pump in training.

Putting into Practice

So how can you mix it all together and make sure youre covering all of your bases? Just start with lowrep training, then move to medium-rep training, and finish off with high-rep training. Heres an example
training session: Begin with a 10-minute dynamic warm-up consisting of various drills that move the
hips through a large range of motion and activate the glutes. For example, multi-directional lunges, side
lying clams, walking knee hugs and bodyweight glute bridges. Next, warm up on squats and then
perform three sets of six reps with the heaviest weight you can use with good form. Now switch to
medium-rep barbell hip thrusts, performing three sets of 12 reps. To finish off the session, perform two
sets of 20 reps of standing cable hip abductions and two sets of 20 reps of standing cable kickbacks.
This session will have adequately stimulated the fast- and slow-twitch fibers in the upper and lower
gluteus maximus. There are many effective exercises that you can employ, but make sure youre
progressively getting stronger in a variety of rep ranges over time.
References
1. Sirca A, Susec-Michieli M. Selective type II fibre muscular atrophy in patients with osteoarthrits of
the hip. Neurol Sci 1980; 44: 149 159.
2. Johnson MA, Polgar J, Weightman D, Appelton D. Data on the distribution of fibre types in thirtysix human muscles. An autopsy study. J Neurol Sci 1973; 18:111129.
3. McAndrew D, Gorelick M, Brown JMM. Muscles within muscles: a mechanomyographic analysis
of muscle segment contractile properties within human gluteus maximus. J Musculoskel Res
2006;10:23e35.
4. Schoenfeld, B, Contreras, B, Willardson, J, Fontana, F, & Tiryaki-Sonmez, G. Muscle activation
during low-versus high-load resistance training in well-trained men. Eur J Appl Physiol 2014;
114(12), 2491-2497.
5. Mitchell, C, Churchward-Venne T, West D, Burd N, Breen L, Baker S, Phillips S. Resistance
exercise load does not determine training-mediated hypertrophic gains in young men. J Appl
Physiol 2012: 113, 71-77.