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Muscle Function Obtained with Motion Mode Ultrasound and Surface Electromyography during Core Endurance Exercise
Published on: August 25, 2022
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High-density electromyography activity in various hamstring exercises.
András Hegyi1, Dániel Csala2, Annamária Péter1
1Neuromuscular Research Center, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyvaskyla, Finland.
Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports
|September 20, 2018
Summary
Hamstring muscle activity varies by exercise and location. Straight-knee bridge, upright hip extension, and leg curls show highest hamstring activation, with specific patterns for biceps femoris long head and semitendinosus muscles.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Exercise Physiology
- Sports Medicine
Background:
- Proximal-distal differences in hamstring muscle activity are often overlooked in exercise analysis.
- Understanding these variations is crucial for effective training and injury rehabilitation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate inter-muscular and proximal-distal electromyography (EMG) activity patterns of hamstring muscles during common exercises.
- To compare EMG activity between different hamstring muscles and regions (proximal, middle, distal) during eccentric and concentric contractions.
Main Methods:
- Nineteen amateur athletes performed 9 hamstring exercises.
- High-density electromyography (HD-EMG) recorded activity in biceps femoris long head (BFlh) and semitendinosus (ST) muscles.
- EMG data were normalized to maximal voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC) and analyzed for regional and inter-muscular differences.
Main Results:
- Straight-knee bridge, upright hip extension, and leg curls demonstrated the highest hamstring activity (40-54%MVIC eccentric, 69-85%MVIC concentric).
- Hip extension was the sole biceps femoris (BF)-dominant exercise.
- Significant proximal-distal differences were observed within the semitendinosus (ST) and BFlh muscles, varying by exercise and contraction mode.
Conclusions:
- Hamstring muscle activation patterns are exercise-specific and influenced by contraction type.
- These findings can inform exercise selection for hamstring injury management and performance enhancement.
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