Task-specific kinetic finger tremor affects the performance of carrom players.
We aimed to determine the effect of task-specific kinetic finger tremor, as indexed by surface electromyography (EMG), on the accuracy of a carrom stroke. Surface EMG of extensor digitorum communis muscle of the playing arm was recorded during rest, isometric contraction and stroke execution in 17 male carrom players with clinically observed finger tremor and 18 skill- and age-matched controls. Log-transformed power spectral densities (LogPSDs) of surface EMG activity (signifying tremor severity) at a 1-s pre-execution period correlated with angular error of the stroke. LogPSDs in 4-10 Hz range were higher in players with tremor than controls during pre-execution (P < 0.001), but not during the resting state (P = 0.067). Pre-execution tremor amplitude correlated with angular deviation (r = 0.45, P = 0.007). For the first time, we document a task-specific kinetic finger tremor in carrom players. This finger tremor during the immediate pre-execution phase appears to be a significant determinant of stroke accuracy.
a Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine , University of Peradeniya , Sri Lanka.|b Department of Nutritional Sciences , Texas Tech University , Lubbock , TX , USA.
Chanaka N
CN
Kahathuduwa
a Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine , University of Peradeniya , Sri Lanka.
Vajira S
VS
Weerasinghe
a Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine , University of Peradeniya , Sri Lanka.|c School of Psychology , The University of Newcastle , Australia.
Tharaka L
TL
Dassanayake
d Ministry of Health and Nutrition , Sri Lanka.
Rajeewa
R
Priyadarshana
d Ministry of Health and Nutrition , Sri Lanka.
Arunika L
AL
Dissanayake
d Ministry of Health and Nutrition , Sri Lanka.
Christine
C
Perera
D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology*; D054874:Athletic Performance; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004576:Electromyography; D005385:Fingers / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D011187:Posture; D013177:Sports; D014202:Tremor; D055815:Young Adult
Task-specific kinetic tremor; carrom; power spectral analysis; surface EMG; tremor frequency