Activity distribution among the hamstring muscles during high-speed running: A descriptive multichannel surface EMG...

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Human Movement Science
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Understanding hamstring muscle activation patterns is crucial for optimizing athletic performance and preventing injuries.
• High-speed running involves complex neuromuscular coordination of the hamstring group.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the distribution of muscle activity within and between hamstring muscles during high-speed running.
• To compare the relative contribution of each hamstring muscle and identify joint angles at peak activity.

Main Methods:

• Multichannel electromyography (EMG) was used to measure hamstring muscle activity in male basketball players during treadmill running.
• Activity was recorded at 15 specific locations across the biceps femoris long head, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus.
• Muscle activity was analyzed for each location throughout the stride cycle.

Main Results:

• Heterogeneous muscle activity was observed across all hamstring muscles during different phases of the running stride.
• Semimembranosus exhibited significantly higher activity and relative contribution than semitendinosus during the late-swing phase.
• Peak muscle activity occurred at similar hip and knee joint angles, irrespective of the specific hamstring muscle or location.

Conclusions:

• Hamstring muscles are most active during the late-swing phase of high-speed running.
• Semimembranosus demonstrates the highest activity, while semitendinosus shows the least activity in this phase.
• Proximal regions of the biceps femoris long head were more active in the late-swing phase compared to other regions.