title: Sex differences in electromechanical delay during a punch movement.
abstract: This study assessed how sex of participant is related to electromechanical delay during a karate punch. Ten male (M age = 25.00 yr., SD = 3.02; M height=174.9 cm, SD=6.3; M weight = 71.13 kg, SD=9.35) and 8 female (M age = 27.4 yr., SD = 6.0; M height = 161.4 cm, SD = 5.1; M weight = 59.09 kg, SD = 7.00) karate athletes performed 10 ballistic punches to a target as hard as possible. Kinematic analysis and surface electromyographic (EMG) activity of the upper-limb muscles were recorded. Men had a significantly shorter electromechanical delay in the anterior portion of the deltoid, showing a larger effectiveness in the transfer of the contractile force for the beginning of movement. Agonist and antagonist relationships show intermuscular coordination differences between the sexes. Results revealed the existence of a different neuromuscular coordination pattern of motor control between men and women, although a similar kinematic pattern was expected due to karate practice.
authors.affiliation: Sport Sciences School of Rio Maior, Polytechnic Institute of Santarém, Rio Maior, Portugal. marioarf@gmail.com
authors.forename: Mário A Rodrigues
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: António M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Vencesbrito
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes / Q000523:psychology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*; D057645:Deltoid Muscle / Q000502:physiology; D004576:Electromyography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016139:Martial Arts / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D055815:Young Adult