A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON HOW FATIGUE AFFECTS SCORING AVERAGE IN PROFESSIONAL DARTS

Abstract

The purpose of this preliminary study was to identify signs of fatigue in specific muscle groups that in turn directly influence accuracy in professional darts. Electromyography (EMG) sensors were employed to monitor the electrical activity produced by skeletal muscles of the trunk and upper limb during throw. It was noted that the Flexor Pollicis Brevis muscle which controls the critical release action during throw shows signs of fatigue. This was accompanied by an inherent increase in mean integral EMG amplitude for a number of other throw related muscles indicating an attempt to maintain constant applied throwing force. A strong correlation was shown to exist between average score and decrease in mean integrated ECG amplitude for the Flexor Pollicis Brevis.