title: Electromyographic Analysis of the Lower Limb Muscles in Low- and High-Handicap Golfers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the electromyographic patterns of the lower limb muscles during a golf swing performed by low- and high-handicap golfers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten golfers (5 low- and 5 high-handicap) performed 8 swings using a 7-iron. Surface electromyography (EMG) was recorded for the following lower limb muscles on both sides: biceps femoris, semitendinosus, gluteus maximus, vastus medialis and lateralis, rectus femoris, tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, and gastrocnemius medialis and lateralis. The golf-swing phases were determined by 3-dimensional high-speed video analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the high-handicap golfers, the low-handicap golfers performed the forward swing with a shorter duration of the swing phases, with the exception of the late follow-through, where they exhibited longer duration. Considering the EMG patterns, the low-handicap golfers showed a tendency for the studied muscles to reach an activation peak earlier and presented statistically significant higher muscle activity in some of the lower limb muscles, mainly from the left side.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differences between low- and high-handicap golfers were found in the average duration of swing phases and in the activation level of the lower limbs, with more evidence on muscles from the left side.
authors.affiliation: a University of Lisbon.|b Piaget Institute.|c BIOLAD.
authors.forename: Sérgio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marta
authors.affiliation: a University of Lisbon.|c BIOLAD.|d Lusíada University of Lisbon.|e Estoril Higher Institute for Tourism and Hotel Studies.
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: a University of Lisbon.|c BIOLAD.|f European University.
authors.forename: João R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Vaz
authors.affiliation: g University of Coimbra.|h Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra.
authors.forename: Maria António
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.affiliation: i Methodist University Center.
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Reinaldo
authors.affiliation: a University of Lisbon.|c BIOLAD.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pezarat-Correia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000842:Ankle / Q000502:physiology; D004576:Electromyography; D006055:Golf / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000502:physiology; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013848:Thigh / Q000502:physiology; D014741:Video Recording; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Club; EMG; neuromuscular patterns; swing