0000000000022663
AUTHOR
András Hegyi
High-density electromyography activity in various hamstring exercises
Proximal-distal differences in muscle activity are rarely considered when defining the activity level of hamstring muscles. The aim of this study was to determine the inter-muscular and proximal-distal electromyography (EMG) activity patterns of hamstring muscles during common hamstring exercises. Nineteen amateur athletes without a history of hamstring injury performed 9 exercises, while EMG activity was recorded along the biceps femoris long head (BFlh) and semitendinosus (ST) muscles using 15-channel high-density electromyography (HD-EMG) electrodes. EMG activity levels normalized to those of a maximal voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC) were determined for the eccentric and concentr…
Region-dependent hamstrings activity in Nordic hamstring exercise and stiff-leg deadlift defined with high-density electromyography
Recent studies suggest region-specific metabolic activity in hamstring muscles during injury prevention exercises, but the neural representation of this phenomenon is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine whether regional differences are evident in the activity of biceps femoris long head (BFlh) and semitendinosus (ST) muscles during two common injury prevention exercises. Twelve male participants without a history of hamstring injury performed the Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) and stiff-leg deadlift (SDL) while BFlh and ST activities were recorded with high-density electromyography (HD-EMG). Normalized activity was calculated from the distal, middle, and proximal regions in the e…
EMG and force production of the flexor hallucis longus muscle in isometric plantarflexion and the push-off phase of walking
Large forces are generated under the big toe in the push-off phase of walking. The largest flexor muscle of the big toe is the flexor hallucis longus (FHL), which likely contributes substantially to these forces. This study examined FHL function at different levels of isometric plantarflexion torque and in the push-off phase at different speeds of walking. FHL and calf muscle activity were measured with surface EMG and plantar pressure was recorded with pressure insoles. FHL activity was compared to the activity of the calf muscles. Force and impulse values were calculated under the big toe, and were compared to the entire pressed area of the insole to determine the relative contribution of…
Effect of footwear on plantar flexor fine-wire electromyography activity in walking
Compared to barefoot walking, walking in footwear seems to alter plantar flexor electromyography (EMG) activity, vertical and horizontal ground reaction forces (Sacco, Akashi, & Hennig, 2010), ankle kinematics and the time of peak activity (Sacco et al., 2010). However, study results are inconsistent regarding the magnitude and direction of these changes. Magnetic resonance imaging showed high inter-individual variability in muscle metabolic activity during walking, suggesting individual-specific activation patterns (Kolk et al., 2015). Additionally, little is known about the role of toe flexors such as flexor hallucis longus (FHL) in walking.
REGIONAL DIFFERENCES IN BICEPS FEMORIS FASCICLE LENGTH AND PENNATION ANGLE AFTER A SIMULATED SOCCER MATCH
Background Hamstring Strain Injuries (HSIs) represent 12% of all injuries in soccer players, and their incidence has increased in recent years. Between 53%-84% of HSIs involve the Biceps femoris muscle (BF). Recent studies have shown that soccer players with shorter BF fascicle length (FL) suffer more HSIs and exhibit regional differences in FL and pennation angle (PA) along BF. It is unclear whether there is any regional difference in the degree of change of these parameters after a soccer match. Objective Describe changes in BF muscle architecture after a simulated soccer match. Design Controlled laboratory study. Pre and Post single session. Setting Laboratory. Amateur Level. Participant…
Effect of footwear on intramuscular EMG activity of plantar flexor muscles in walking
One of the purposes of footwear is to assist locomotion, but some footwear types seem to restrict natural foot motion, which may affect the contribution of ankle plantar flexor muscles to propulsion. This study examined the effects of different footwear conditions on the activity of ankle plantar flexors during walking. Ten healthy habitually shod individuals walked overground in shoes, barefoot and in flip-flops while fine-wire electromyography (EMG) activity was recorded from flexor hallucis longus (FHL), soleus (SOL), and medial and lateral gastrocnemius (MG and LG) muscles. EMG signals were peak-normalised and analysed in the stance phase using Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM). We f…
RECRUITMENT OF BICEPS FEMORIS MUSCLE REGIONS AT DIFFERENT RUNNING SPEEDS
Background The majority of hamstring strain injuries (HSIs) occur in the late swing phase of high-speed running when hamstrings work eccentrically. The proximal region of the biceps femoris (BF) seems to be the most common site of injury. Elongation of the fascicles in eccentric contractions is higher in the proximal region compared to the distal region of BF, but the neural background to this phenomenon is not clear. Objective To examine the region-specificity of BF muscle activity at different running speeds. Design Observational study. Running speeds were randomized. Setting Laboratory, amateur level. Participants Football players without acute injury/illness, and without HSI history wer…
Effects of barbell back squat stance width on sagittal and frontal hip and knee kinetics
Different stance widths are commonly utilized when completing the barbell back squat during athletic general preparedness training. Width manipulation is thought to influence sagittal plane stimuli to the hip and knee extensors, the primary extensor musculature in the squat. However, how width manipulation affects frontal plane stimuli is less understood. Knowledge of hip and knee net joint moments (NJM) could improve exercise selection when aiming to improve sport-specific performance and prevent injuries. Fourteen adult amateur rugby athletes were recruited for this study. After a familiarization period, participants performed wide- (WIDE, 1.5× greater trochanter width) and narrow-stance …
Superimposing hip extension on knee flexion evokes higher activation in biceps femoris than knee flexion alone.
Hamstring muscle function during knee flexion has been linked to hamstring injury and performance. However, it is unclear whether knee flexion alone (KF) requires similar hamstring electromyography (EMG) activity pattern to simultaneous hip extension and knee flexion (HE-KF), a combination that occurs in the late swing phase of sprinting. This study examined whether HE-KF maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) evokes higher (EMG) activity in biceps femoris long head (BFlh) and semitendinosus (ST) than KF alone. Effects of shank rotation angles were also tested. Twenty-one males performed the above-mentioned MVICs while EMG activity was measured along ST and BFlh. Conditions were com…
Individual Region- and Muscle-specific Hamstring Activity at Different Running Speeds
Introduction \ud Hamstring strain injuries typically occur in the proximal biceps femoris long head (BFlh) at high running speeds. Strain magnitude seems to be the primary determinant of strain injury, and may be regulated by muscle activation. In running, BFlh strain is largest in the proximal region, especially at high speeds. However, region-specific activity has not been examined. This study examined the proximal–distal and intermuscular activity of BFlh and semitendinosus (ST) as a function of increasing running speed.\ud \ud Methods \ud Thirteen participants ran at steady speeds of 4.1 (slow), 5.4 (moderate), and 6.8 m·s−1 (fast) on a treadmill. Region- and muscle-specific EMG activit…
In vivo fascicle behavior of the flexor hallucis longus muscle at different walking speeds.
Ankle plantar flexor muscles support and propel the body in the stance phase of locomotion. Besides the triceps surae, flexor hallucis longus muscle (FHL) may also contribute to this role, but very few in vivo studies have examined FHL function during walking. Here, we investigated FHL fascicle behavior at different walking speeds. Ten healthy males walked overground at three different speeds while FHL fascicle length changes were recorded with ultrasound and muscle activity was recorded with surface electromyography (EMG). Fascicle length at heel strike at toe off and at peak EMG activity did not change with speed. Range of FHL fascicle length change (3.5-4.5 and 1.9-2.9 mm on average in s…
Comparing Surface and Fine-Wire Electromyography Activity of Lower Leg Muscles at Different Walking Speeds.
Ankle plantar flexor muscles are active in the stance phase of walking to propel the body forward. Increasing walking speed requires increased plantar flexor excitation, frequently assessed using surface electromyography (EMG). Despite its popularity, validity of surface EMG applied on shank muscles is mostly unclear. Thus, we examined the agreement between surface and intramuscular EMG at a range of walking speeds. Ten participants walked overground at slow, preferred, fast, and maximum walking speeds (1.01 ± 0.13, 1.43 ± 0.19, 1.84 ± 0.23, and 2.20 ± 0.38 m s–1, respectively) while surface and fine-wire EMG activities of flexor hallucis longus (FHL), soleus (SOL), medial gastrocnemius (MG…