- Zeitschriftendaten
- Format
- Zeitschrift
- eISSN
- 1899-7562
- Erstveröffentlichung
- 13 Jan 2009
- Erscheinungsweise
- 5 Hefte pro Jahr
- Sprachen
- Englisch
The purpose of this study was to assess whether peak surface electromyography (sEMG) amplitude of selected lower limb muscles differed during a) curve and straight sprinting, b) sprinting in inside and outside lanes between lower limbs. Eleven well-trained female sprinters (personal best: 24.1 ± 1.1 s) were included in a randomized within-subject design study, in which participants underwent two experimental conditions: all-out 200 m indoor sprints in the innermost and outermost lane. Peak sEMG amplitude was recorded bilaterally from gastrocnemius medialis, biceps femoris, gluteus maximus, tibialis anterior, and vastus lateralis muscles. Left gastrocnemius medialis peak sEMG amplitude was significantly higher than for the right leg muscle during curve (p = 0.011) and straight sprinting (p < 0.001) when sprinting in the inside lane, and also significantly higher when sprinting in the inside vs. outside lane for both curve and straight sprinting (p = 0.037 and p = 0.027, respectively). Moreover, left biceps femoris peak sEMG amplitude was significantly higher during straight sprinting in the inside vs. outside lane (p = 0.006). Furthermore, right and left vastus lateralis peak sEMG amplitude was significantly higher during curve sprinting in the inside lane (p = 0.001 and p = 0.004, respectively) and for the left leg muscle peak sEMG amplitude was significantly higher during curve compared to straight sprinting in the outside lane (p = 0.024). Results indicate that curve sprinting creates greater demands mainly for the gastrocnemius medialis of the inner than the outer leg, but the degree of these requirements seems to depend on the radius of the curve, thus significant changes were noted during sprinting in the inside lane, but not in the outside lane.
Key words
- electromyography
- activity pattern
- lower limbs
- biceps femoris
- gastrocnemius
Sprint running has been widely investigated in the literature mainly through kinematic and kinetic variables as well as muscle activity patterns while sprinting on both indoor and outdoor tracks (Howard et al., 2018; Jönhagen et al., 2007; Slawinski et al., 2008, 2010; Zabaloy et al., 2020). However, most of these studies examined straight, not curve sprinting (Morin et al., 2015; Nummela et al., 1992, 1994; Slawinski et al., 2008, 2010; Zabaloy et al., 2020), and those that focused on indoor curve sprinting concerned, above all, changes in velocity at particular sections of the race (Delecluse et al., 1998; Ferro and Floria, 2013) or differences in ground reaction forces (Chang and Kram, 2007; Luo and Stefanyshyn, 2012). According to our knowledge no studies have investigated lower limb muscle activity patterns in female sprinters during maximum-effort curve sprints.
Sprinting speed achieved on the curve is significantly lower than that registered on the straightaway, while times are significantly slower (Ferro and Floria, 2013). This is caused by the constant distribution of ground reaction forces which counter the centrifugal force and thus reduce the vertical and horizontal forces (Chang and Kram, 2007). Moreover, the lower limbs play different roles during curve sprinting (Chang and Kram, 2007; Filter et al., 2020). The left leg (inside) is responsible for stabilizing and managing the movement in the frontal plane by braking and changing direction, whereas the right leg (outside) has a propulsive role and supports control of the motion in the horizontal plane during curve sprinting (Alt et al., 2015; Chang and Kram, 2007). This was confirmed in one of the recent studies considering surface electromyography activity (sEMG) during curve sprinting (Filter et al., 2020). Filter et al. (2020) showed that peak sEMG amplitude significantly differed between the outside and inside legs during curve sprinting among soccer players. Those authors noticed a higher peak sEMG amplitude of
The purpose of this study was to assess whether peak sEMG amplitude of selected lower limb muscles (
Eleven well-trained female sprinters participated in the study (age: 21 ± 4 yrs; body mass: 47 ± 5 kg; body height: 161 ± 7 cm; 200 m personal best: 24.1 ± 1.1 s). Athletes were in the pre-season phase of the season. The inclusion criteria were as follows: i) free from neuromuscular and musculoskeletal disorders as well as self-described satisfactory health status, ii) national team members for at least 2 years, iii) competing at national and international levels in the two previous seasons. All athletes were informed about the objectives and potential risks of the study before providing their written informed consent for participation. They were asked to maintain their normal dietary and sleep habits throughout the study and not to use any supplements or stimulants for 24 h prior to the testing session. The study received the approval of the Bioethical Committee of the Academy of Physical Education in Katowice (3/2021) and was performed according to the ethical standards of the Declaration of Helsinki, 2013.
This was a cross-sectional comparative study of running performance during the first curve and straightaway section of a 200 m indoor sprint between inside and outside lanes. The evaluations were carried out over three trials with a day of rest separating each session (Saturday, Monday and Wednesday) on an indoor synthetic four lanes track with IAAF certification (Certified Facility by World Athletics as Class 2). To avoid the influence of circadian rhythm on performance, both trials were performed at the same time of the day (between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.). All sessions were preceded by a standardized, sprint specific warm-up that was consistent with participants’ normal training habits. During the familiarization session, each participant performed one run in the inside and the outside lane (in independently chosen order) with sEMG electrodes to exclude their influence on the quality of the run. Each experimental session consisted of two all-out sprints from a crouched start, with a 10-min rest interval in between. The test protocol for each day was identical, except for the lane in which the athlete sprinted (inside - 1st or outside - 4th lane). In both situations the 0- to 50-m section was considered as a curve, while the 50- to 100-m section as a straightaway. The radius of the curve of the inside lane was 17.2 m and of the outside lane it was 20.86 m. The order of the sprints was randomized. Participants used their track spikes during the sprint evaluations.
The sEMG data were recorded bilaterally from the
Characteristics of electrode placement and maximal voluntary isometric contraction tests for each studied muscle group.
| Muscle Group | Electrode placement | MVIC Description |
|---|---|---|
| on the most prominent bulge of the muscle | Lying on the belly with the face down, the knee extended and the foot projecting over the end of the table. Plantar flexion of the foot with emphasis on pulling the heel upward more than pushing the forefoot downward. For maximum pressure in this position, it is necessary to apply pressure against the forefoot as well as against the calcaneus. | |
| at 50% of the line between the ischial tuberosity and the lateral epicondyle of the tibia | Lying on the belly with the face down with the thigh down on the table and the knees flexed (to less than 90 degrees) with the thigh in slight lateral rotation and the leg in slight lateral rotation with respect to the thigh. Press against the leg proximal to the ankle in the direction of knee extension. | |
| at 50% of the line between the sacral vertebrae and the greater trochanter | Prone position, lying down on a table. Lifting the entire leg against manual resistance. | |
| at 1/3 of the line between the tip of the fibula and the tip of the medial malleolus | In the supine position. Support the leg just above the ankle joint with the ankle joint in dorsiflexion and the foot in inversion without extension of the great toe. Apply pressure against the medial side, dorsal surface of the foot in the direction of plantar flexion of the ankle joint and eversion of the foot. | |
| at 2/3 of the line from the anterior spina iliaca superior to the lateral side of the patella | Sitting on a table with the knees in slight flexion and the upper body slightly bent backward. Extend the knee without rotating the thigh while applying pressure against the leg above the ankle in the direction of flexion. |
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All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS (version 25.0; SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results were expressed as means with standard deviations. Reliability was explored using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) from the two-way mixed model for single measures and representing absolute agreement. ICCs were interpreted as poor (< 0.50), moderate (0.50–0.75), good (0.75–0.90), and excellent (>0.90) (Koo and Li, 2016). The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to verify the normality of the sample data. Differences in %MVIC between the conditions were examined using repeated measures three-way ANOVA (2 conditions (outside vs. inside) × 2 paths (curve - CRV vs. straight - STR) × 2 side (right vs. left)). An independent analysis was performed for each muscle. Effect sizes for main effects and interactions were determined by partial eta squared (η2). Partial eta squared values were classified as small (0.01 to 0.059), moderate (0.06 to 0.137) and large (>0.137). Post hoc comparisons using the Bonferroni correction were conducted to locate the differences between mean values when a main effect or interaction was found. For pairwise comparisons, effect sizes were determined by Hedges g which was interpreted as ≤0.20 small, 0.21-0.8 medium, and >0.80 as large. Statistical significance was set at
The changes in sEMG activity of the posterior and anterior thigh muscles are shown in Tables 2 and 3. The within-day ICC for normalized sEMG amplitude data from the studied muscles over the three MVIC trials ranged between 0.83 and 0.92. The normalized sEMG amplitude data from the studied muscles over the two inside lane trials ranged between 0.77 and 0.89, while for the outside lane trials they ranged between 0.78 and 0.92.
| sEMG activity of the posterior thigh muscles [%MVIC – maximum voluntary isometric contraction] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inside Lane | Outside Lane | ||||
| 139 ± 29 | 166 ± 18*# | 137 ± 30 | 142 ± 30 | ||
| 126 ± 22† | 162 ± 22*# | 128 ± 30 | 136 ± 20 | ||
| 115 ± 21 | 129 ± 30 | 117 ± 17 | 127 ± 25 | ||
| 118 ± 27 | 132 ± 27* | 113 ± 24 | 118 ± 29 | ||
| 100 ± 26 | 110 ± 31 | 99 ± 26 | 102 ± 29 | ||
| 105 ± 25 | 107 ± 33 | 101 ± 24 | 111 ± 44 | ||
* compared with the corresponding value to the outside lane condition;
# compared with the right limb; † compared with CRV
The 3-way ANOVA revealed a significant condition × side interaction (
The 3-way ANOVA showed a significant condition × path interaction (
The 3-way ANOVA did not show any significant interactions nor main effects for the
The 3-way ANOVA did not show any significant interactions nor main effects for the
The 3-way ANOVA did not show any significant interactions, but a main effect of the path (
| sEMG activity of the Anterior Thigh Muscles [%MVIC - maximum voluntary isometric contraction] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inside Lane | Outside Lane | ||||
| 57 ± 22 | 55 ± 23 | 60 ± 24 | 64 ± 20 | ||
| 50 ± 22 | 51 ± 23 | 61 ± 24 | 56 ± 22 | ||
| 77 ± 22 | 76 ± 29 | 72 ± 25 | 73 ± 26 | ||
| 62 ± 21† | 63 ± 23† | 65 ± 25 | 66 ± 26† | ||
† compared with CRV
The main finding of this study was that the
As suggested by Alt et al. (2015) the inside leg is responsible for stabilizing the movement in the frontal plane, whereas the outside leg provides and controls the motion in the horizontal plane during curve sprinting. Indeed, our results showed that the left (inside) and the right (outside) leg had different roles during curve sprinting, however, it concerned the
Interestingly, the increased peak sEMG amplitude of the left
Surprisingly, our initial hypothesis was not confirmed and these differences in the peak sEMG amplitude pattern were not found in the other studied muscles (
Nonetheless, this study has several limitations which should be addressed. First of all, only the first two sections of the indoor sprint (first curve and first straightaway section of the 200-m indoor sprint) were considered. In addition, the external structure of the movement (i.e., ground reaction forces and motion analysis) was not investigated. Furthermore, the sEMG amplitude was analyzed only on the basis of peak values and our analysis did not consider adductor muscles and
It can be concluded that curve sprinting creates greater demands for the inner than the outer leg, but the degree of these requirements seems to depend on the radius of the curve, thus significant changes were noted during sprinting in the inside lane, but not in the outside lane. However, this concerned the
Comparison of peak sEMG amplitude (± standard deviation) of the selected posterior thigh muscles.
| sEMG activity of the posterior thigh muscles [%MVIC – maximum voluntary isometric contraction] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inside Lane | Outside Lane | ||||
| 139 ± 29 | 166 ± 18*# | 137 ± 30 | 142 ± 30 | ||
| 126 ± 22† | 162 ± 22*# | 128 ± 30 | 136 ± 20 | ||
| 115 ± 21 | 129 ± 30 | 117 ± 17 | 127 ± 25 | ||
| 118 ± 27 | 132 ± 27* | 113 ± 24 | 118 ± 29 | ||
| 100 ± 26 | 110 ± 31 | 99 ± 26 | 102 ± 29 | ||
| 105 ± 25 | 107 ± 33 | 101 ± 24 | 111 ± 44 | ||
Characteristics of electrode placement and maximal voluntary isometric contraction tests for each studied muscle group.
| Muscle Group | Electrode placement | MVIC Description |
|---|---|---|
| on the most prominent bulge of the muscle | Lying on the belly with the face down, the knee extended and the foot projecting over the end of the table. Plantar flexion of the foot with emphasis on pulling the heel upward more than pushing the forefoot downward. For maximum pressure in this position, it is necessary to apply pressure against the forefoot as well as against the calcaneus. | |
| at 50% of the line between the ischial tuberosity and the lateral epicondyle of the tibia | Lying on the belly with the face down with the thigh down on the table and the knees flexed (to less than 90 degrees) with the thigh in slight lateral rotation and the leg in slight lateral rotation with respect to the thigh. Press against the leg proximal to the ankle in the direction of knee extension. | |
| at 50% of the line between the sacral vertebrae and the greater trochanter | Prone position, lying down on a table. Lifting the entire leg against manual resistance. | |
| at 1/3 of the line between the tip of the fibula and the tip of the medial malleolus | In the supine position. Support the leg just above the ankle joint with the ankle joint in dorsiflexion and the foot in inversion without extension of the great toe. Apply pressure against the medial side, dorsal surface of the foot in the direction of plantar flexion of the ankle joint and eversion of the foot. | |
| at 2/3 of the line from the anterior spina iliaca superior to the lateral side of the patella | Sitting on a table with the knees in slight flexion and the upper body slightly bent backward. Extend the knee without rotating the thigh while applying pressure against the leg above the ankle in the direction of flexion. |
Comparison of the peak sEMG amplitude (± standard deviation) of the selected anterior thigh muscles.
| sEMG activity of the Anterior Thigh Muscles [%MVIC - maximum voluntary isometric contraction] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inside Lane | Outside Lane | ||||
| 57 ± 22 | 55 ± 23 | 60 ± 24 | 64 ± 20 | ||
| 50 ± 22 | 51 ± 23 | 61 ± 24 | 56 ± 22 | ||
| 77 ± 22 | 76 ± 29 | 72 ± 25 | 73 ± 26 | ||
| 62 ± 21† | 63 ± 23† | 65 ± 25 | 66 ± 26† | ||
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