ELECTROMYOGERAPHIC WAVELET ANALYSIS OF LOWER EXTERMITY MUSCLES DURING SPRINT START AND TWO SUBSEQUNT STEPS

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify muscle fiber activity based on the wavelet technique during the sprint start. Also, the influence of age, gender and anthropometric parameters was investigated. Sixty young elite sprinters volunteered. Bilateral electromyographic activity was recorded from the Gastrocnemius medialis (GAS), Rectus femoris, Biceps femoris and Gluteus maximus (GLU). During all phases of sprint start, the rear and front GAS muscles showed significantly higher frequencies while the GLU muscles presented lower frequencies than any other muscles. No significant differences were observed between boys and girls, however, the results showed that the older sprinters, the ones with a higher percentage of thigh and calf circumference and skeletal muscle mass have a better capability to recruit more fast twitch fibers, for instance in the GAS.