title: Differences in activation properties of the hamstring muscles during overground sprinting.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to quantify activation of the biceps femoris (BF) and medial hamstring (MH) during overground sprinting. Lower-extremity kinematics and electromyography (EMG) of the BF and MH were recorded in 13 male sprinters performing overground sprinting at maximum effort. Mean EMG activity was calculated in the early stance, late stance, mid-swing, and late-swing phases. Activation of the BF was significantly greater during the early stance phase than the late stance phase (p<0.01). Activation of the BF muscle was significantly lower during the first half of the mid-swing phase than the other phases (p<0.05). The MH had significantly greater EMG activation relative to its recorded maximum values compared to that for the BF during the late stance (p<0.05) and mid-swing (p<0.01) phases. These results indicate that the BF shows high activation before and after foot contact, while the MH shows high activation during the late stance and mid-swing phases. We concluded that the activation properties of the BF and MH muscles differ within the sprinting gait cycle.
authors.affiliation: The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Sumitomo-Ichibancho FS Bldg., 8 Ichibancho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8472, Japan; Niigata University of Health and Welfare, Department of Health and Sports, 1398 Shimami-cho, Niigata-City, Niigata-Prefecture 950-3198, Japan. Electronic address: four-leaf-clover@akane.waseda.jp.
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Higashihara
authors.affiliation: Japan Women's College of Physical Education, Department of Sports Wellness Sciences, 8-19-1, Kitakarasuyama, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 157-8565, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuharu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nagano
authors.affiliation: Kitasato University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Center for Human and Social Sciences, 1-15-1, Kitasato, Minami Ward, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 252-037, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sport Sciences, Waseda University, 2-579-15 Mikajima, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-1192, Japan.
authors.forename: Toru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukubayashi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004576:Electromyography; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Electromyography; Hamstring muscles; Hip joint; Knee joint; Overground sprint