An electromyographic assessment pilot study on the reliability of the forearm muscles during multi-planar maximum voluntary contraction grip and wrist articulation in young males
- Authors: Hunter, Henry , Sorbie, Graeme , Grace, Fergal , Gu, Yaodong , Lam, Wing-Kai , Baker, Julien , Dutheil, Frederic , Dias, Tilak , Ugbolue, Ukadike
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Technology and Health Care Vol. 30, no. 3 (2022), p. 713-724
- Full Text: false
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- Description: BACKGROUND: Electromyographic systems are widely used in scientific and clinical practice. The reproducibility and reliability of these measures are crucial when conducting scientific research and collecting experimental data. OBJECTIVE: To test the reliability of surface electromyography signals from both the Flexor Digitorum Superficialis (FDS) and Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis (ECRB) muscles of both the left and right arms during an individual, static multi-planar maximum voluntary contraction handgrip task using the Myon 320 system (Myon AG, Switzerland). METHODS: Eight right-handed male participants performed two maximal handgrip tests in five separate wrist positions using both hands. Muscle activity was recorded from both forearms. Reliability was measured using the Standard Error of Measurement (SEM), Coefficient of Variation (CV) and Intra-class correlation coefficients. Wrist joint position correlations within and between the FDS and ECRB muscle activities were also analysed. RESULTS: Absolute reliability was shown across all positions for both hands with CV and SEM recorded at below 10%. The output measures indicate that the Myon 320 system (Myon AG, Switzerland) produces good to fair reliability when assessing forearm muscle activity. Correlations in the left FDS muscles were negative. Correlations between the left ECRB and left FDS muscles were variable but positive between the right ECRB and right FDS muscles. CONCLUSIONS: The data sets retrieved from all participants were reliably evaluated. Wrist position correlations within and between the FDS and ECRB muscles may have been influenced by hand dominance. The findings demonstrate that the methods and systems outlined in this study can be used reliably in future research. © 2022 - IOS Press. All rights reserved.
An electromyographic study of the effect of hand grip sizes on forearm muscle activity and golf performance
- Authors: Sorbie, Graeme , Hunter, Henry , Grace, Fergal , Gu, Yaodong , Baker, Julien , Ugbolue, Ukadike
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Research in Sports Medicine Vol. 24, no. 3 (2016), p. 207-218
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- Description: The study describes the differences in surface electromyography (EMG) activity of two forearm muscles in the lead and trail arm at specific phases of the golf swing using a 7-iron with three different grip sizes among amateur and professional golfers. Fifteen right-handed male golfers performed five golf swings using golf clubs with three different grip sizes. Surface EMG was used to measure muscle activity of the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) and flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) on both forearms. There were no significant differences in forearm muscle activity when using the three golf grips within the group of 15 golfers (p > 0.05). When using the undersize grip, club head speed significantly increased (p = 0.044). During the backswing and downswing phases, amateurs produced significantly greater forearm muscle activity with all three grip sizes (p < 0.05). In conclusion, forearm muscle activity is not affected by grip sizes. However, club head speed increases when using undersize grips.
An evaluation of temporal and club angle parameters during golf swings using low cost video analyses packages
- Authors: Hunter, Henry , Ugbolue, Ukadike , Sorbie, Graeme , Lam, Wing-Kai , Grace, Fergal , Dello Iacono, Antonio , Liang, Minjun , Dutheil, Frederic , Gu, Yaodong , Baker, Julien
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Scientific Reports Vol. 12, no. 1 (2022), p.
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- Description: The purpose of this study was to compare swing time and golf club angle parameters during golf swings using three, two dimensional (2D) low cost, Augmented-Video-based-Portable-Systems (AVPS) (Kinovea, SiliconCoach Pro, SiliconCoach Live). Twelve right-handed golfers performed three golf swings whilst being recorded by a high-speed 2D video camera. Footage was then analysed using AVPS-software and the results compared using both descriptive and inferential statistics. There were no significant differences for swing time and the golf phase measurements between the 2D and 3D software comparisons. In general, the results showed a high Intra class Correlation Coefficient (ICC > 0.929) and Cronbach’s Coefficient Alpha (CCA > 0.924) reliability for both the kinematic and temporal parameters. The inter-rater reliability test for the swing time and kinematic golf phase measurements on average were strong. Irrespective of the AVPS software investigated, the cost effective AVPS can produce reliable output measures that benefit golf analyses. © 2022, Crown.
Commercial golf glove effects on golf performance and forearm muscle activity
- Authors: Sorbie, Graeme , Darroch, Paul , Grace, Fergal , Gu, Yaodong , Baker, Julien , Ugbolue, Ukadike
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Research in Sports Medicine Vol. 25, no. 4 (2017), p. 451-461
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- Description: The study aimed to determine whether or not commercial golf gloves influence performance variables and forearm muscle activity during golf play. Fifteen golfers participated in the laboratory based study, each performing 8 golf swings with a Driver and 7-iron whilst wearing a glove and 8 without wearing the glove. Club head speed, ball speed and absolute carry distance performance variables were calculated. Surface electromyography was recorded from the flexor digitorum superficialis and extensor carpi radialis brevis on both forearm muscles. Club head speed, ball speed and absolute carry distance was significantly higher when using the Driver with the glove in comparison to the Driver without the glove (p < 0.05). No significant differences were evident when using the 7-iron and no significant differences were displayed in muscle activity in either of the conditions. Findings from this study suggest that driving performance is improved when wearing a glove.
Comparison of thoracic and lumbar erector spinae muscle activation before and after a golf practice session
- Authors: Sorbie, Graeme , Grace, Fergal , Gu, Yaodong , Baker, Julien , Ugbolue, Ukadike
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Applied Biomechanics Vol. 33, no. 4 (2017), p. 288-293
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- Description: Lower back pain is commonly associated with golfers. The study aimed: to determine whether thoracic- and lumbar-erector-spinae muscle display signs of muscular fatigue after completing a golf practice session, and to examine the effect of the completed practice session on club head speed, ball speed and absolute carry distance performance variables. Fourteen right-handed male golfers participated in the laboratory-based-study. Surface electromyography (EMG) data was collected from the lead and trail sides of the thoracic- and lumbar-erector-spinae muscle. Normalized root mean squared (RMS) EMG activation levels and performance variables for the golf swings were compared before and after the session. Fatigue was assessed using median frequency (MDF) and RMS during the maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) performed before and after the session. No significant differences were observed in RMS thoracic- and lumbar-erector-spinae muscle activation levels during the five phases of the golf swing and performance variables before and after the session (p > .05). Significant changes were displayed in MDF and RMS in the lead lower lumbar and all trail regions of the erector-spinae muscle when comparing the MVC performed before and after the session (p < .05). Fatigue was evident in the trail side of the erector-spinae muscle after the session.
Electromyographic analyses of the erector spinae muscles during golf swings using four different clubs
- Authors: Sorbie, Graeme , Grace, Fergal , Gu, Yaodong , Baker, Julien , Ugbolue, Ukadike
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Sports Sciences Vol. 36, no. 7 (2017), p. 717-723
- Full Text: false
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- Description: The purpose of this study was to compare the electromyography (EMG) patterns of the thoracic andlumbar regions of the erector spinae (ES) muscle during the golf swing whilst using four different golfclubs. Fifteen right-handed male golfers performed a total of twenty swings in random order using thedriver, 4-iron, 7-iron and pitching-wedge. Surface EMG was recorded from the lead and trail sides of thethoracic and lumbar regions of the ES muscle (T8, L1 and L5 lateral to the spinous-process). Three-dimensional high-speed video analysis was used to identify the backswing, forward swing, acceleration,early and late follow-through phases of the golf swing. No significant differences in muscle-activationlevels from the lead and trail sides of the thoracic and lumbar regions of the ES muscle were displayedbetween the driver, 4-iron, 7-iron and pitching-wedge (P > 0.05). The highest mean thoracic and lumbarES muscle-activation levels were displayed in the forward swing (67–99% MVC) and acceleration (83–106% MVC) phases of the swing for all clubs tested. The findings from this study show that there wereno significant statistical differences between the driver, 4-iron, 7-iron and pitching-wedge whenexamining muscle activity from the thoracic and lumbar regions of the ES muscle.