Shoulder muscle activity during pushing, pulling, elevation and overhead throw.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to compare the muscle activity of recreational athletes and professional javelin throwers during pull, push, and elevation of upper extremities and during overhead throw.


METHODS
Nine professional javelin throwers and 16 recreational athletes without shoulder problems were studied. Signals were recorded by surface EMG from eight different muscles. The results obtained from the muscles of upper extremities of throwers were compared with those of recreational athletes.


CONCLUSIONS
The different neuromuscular control of professional throwers caused a more profitable muscle activity. Differences during the overhead throw were more significant. The deltoid muscle and rotator cuff of recreational athletes showed stronger activity than those of throwers during pull, push and elevation. The deltoid muscle and the rotator cuff of professional throwers showed stronger activity during overhead throw. Studying the detailed characteristics of muscle activity pattern (differences in length of activity periods, MVC% of muscles and time broadness among peak muscle activities in percent of total time of a movement cycle) may provide a basis for better understanding improved performance and help in planning proper rehabilitation protocol.
Illyés
Arpád
A
Semmelweis University, Department of Orthopaedics, 1113 Budapest, Karolina út 27, Hungary.
Kiss
Rita M
RM
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017770:Lifting; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000502:physiology; D010369:Pectoralis Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000502:physiology; D012782:Shoulder / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014142:Track and Field / Q000502:physiology*; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000502:physiology*