Application of Wireless EMG Sensors for Assessing Agonist-Antagonist Muscle Activity During 50-m Sprinting in Athletes.

Background

Wireless surface electromyography (sEMG) enables the investigation of neuromuscular control in realistic sports settings; however, ensuring reliable signal acquisition during sprinting remains challenging. This study examined the feasibility of continuous wireless EMG recording in sprinting athletes and evaluated their agonist-antagonist coordination patterns.

Methods

Ten trained sprinters performed four maximal 50-m sprints on a force plate-equipped track. sEMG was recorded from the biceps femoris (BF), rectus femoris (RF), soleus (Sol), and tibialis anterior (TA) under two receiver configurations: fixed-receiver condition (FRC) and mobile-receiver condition (MRC). Integrated EMG, kinematics, and cross-correlation analyses were performed on a stride-by-stride basis.

Results

Continuous high-quality EMG was feasible under MRC, highlighting the practical importance of maintaining receiver proximity in sprint experiments. BF activity during the late swing phase correlated positively with sprint velocity, supporting the performance relevance of pawing. BF/RF interactions varied substantially across individuals, whereas Sol/TA were consistently coactivated, indicating ankle stabilization.

Conclusions

Wireless EMG enables reliable in-field monitoring of sprinting athletes, revealing both individualized and shared coordination strategies relevant to performance and injury prevention in athletes.