Recurrence quantification analysis and support vector machines for golf handicap and low back pain EMG classification

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Motor Control
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Electromyography (EMG) analysis is crucial for understanding neuromuscular strategies in dynamic movements.
• Limited research exists on muscle coordination under motor constraints during dynamic contractions, particularly in golf.
• Golfers' handicap (Hc) and low back pain (LBP) are significant factors in injury occurrence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the accuracy of Support Vector Machines (SVM) in classifying golfers based on handicap and LBP status using EMG data.
• To discriminate between low and high handicap golfers and between golfers with and without LBP during the golf swing.
• To identify specific neuromuscular coordination patterns associated with handicap and LBP in golfers.

Main Methods:

• Recurrence Quantification Analysis (RQA) features were extracted from trunk and lower limb muscle EMG signals.
• RQA features, including recurrence rate (RR) and determinism/RR ratio, were used to train an SVM classifier.
• Classification accuracy was evaluated for different phases of the golf swing (swing, backswing, downswing).

Main Results:

• SVM achieved high accuracy in discriminating Hc (94.4-97.1%) and LBP (96.9-99.7%) across swing phases.
• Recurrence rate (RR) and determinism/RR ratio demonstrated significant discriminant power.
• Specific muscles like external oblique (EO), biceps femoris (BF), semitendinosus (ST), and rectus femoris (RF) showed high accuracy in classification, varying by laterality and phase.
• Low back pain golfers exhibited distinct neuromuscular coordination strategies compared to asymptomatic golfers.

Conclusions:

• RQA features combined with SVM provide a robust method for classifying golfers by handicap and LBP status.
• The study highlights the capacity of EMG-based analysis to reveal differences in neuromuscular coordination related to golf performance and injury risk.
• Findings suggest that LBP influences neuromuscular strategies during the golf swing, offering insights for targeted interventions and injury prevention.