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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
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Muscle Imbalances: Testing and Training Functional Eccentric Hamstring Strength in Athletic Populations
Published on: May 1, 2018
Upper body muscle activation during acceleration and sprinting.
David J Elmer1, Jessica K Washington2, Victoria A Conn1
1Department of Kinesiology, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA, USA.
Sports Biomechanics
|July 13, 2026
Summary
Upper body muscle activation patterns change during a 40-meter sprint. Shoulder and arm muscles decrease activity, while trunk muscles like the erector spinae and latissimus dorsi increase, aiding performance.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Exercise Physiology
- Sports Science
Background:
- Understanding muscle activation during sprinting is crucial for optimizing performance.
- Previous research has focused on lower limb contributions, with less detail on upper body involvement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure upper body electromyography (EMG) activity during a 40-meter sprint.
- To investigate the relationship between upper body muscle activation and sprint performance variables.
Main Methods:
- Fourteen adults completed three 40-meter sprints.
- EMG activity of eight upper body muscles was recorded in 10-meter phases.
- Sprint velocity, acceleration, net horizontal force (F_H), and force ratio (RF%) were measured.
Main Results:
- Deltoid, trapezius, biceps, and triceps activation decreased in later sprint phases.
- Latissimus dorsi, erector spinae, and external oblique activation increased after the initial 10 meters.
- Latissimus dorsi and erector spinae activation correlated positively with velocity, acceleration, F_H, and RF% between 10-20 meters.
Conclusions:
- Upper body muscle activation shifts during sprinting, with arm/shoulder muscles declining and trunk muscles increasing.
- Erector spinae and latissimus dorsi activation are critical for the acceleration to peak velocity transition.
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