Comparison of Modular Control during Smash Shot between Advanced and Beginner Badminton Players

Abstract

This study investigated muscle synergy during smash shot in badminton and compared synergies of advanced players (more than 7 years experience) and beginner players (less than 3 years experience). The dominant hand of all players was the right side. Muscle activities were recorded on both sides of the rectus abdominis, external oblique (EO), internal oblique/transversus abdominis (IO/TrA), and erector spinae. Additionally, the right side of the biceps brachii, triceps brachii, flexor carpi radialis, flexor carpi ulnaris, and flexor digitorum profundus muscle activities were recorded. All data was obtained using surface electromyography. Synergy was extracted from electromyography signals using nonnegative matrix factorization. Extracted synergies in each group were compared using scalar product (SP) which is the similarity index. As a result, two synergies were extracted in the beginner players and three synergies were extracted in advanced players. Beginner and advanced players had one synergy in common (SP = 0.86) that was mainly on the left side of the EO. It activated in the early stroke and had a role of side bending from the left to hit the shuttlecock at a higher point. Another synergy that had coactivation of the IO/TrA and forearm muscles at impact was extracted only for advanced players and it may enhance the smash shot performance in badminton.

Proficiency‐based recruitment of muscle synergies in a highly perturbed walking task (slackline)

“…Quantifying motor learning in a postural stabilization task is challenging. In previous studies, lesser sample space for trials, 26,27 simple postural task constraints and scoring system, 27 and models, which may not be as highly challenging for novices 10 were used to study the effects of motor learning on MS. A more challenging task that provides greater variability in the mediolateral direction was employed in this study with the intent that it may impose kinematic changes in relation to muscle co‐activation 10,27 . It has been previously observed how unstable gait conditions between different population groups modulates activation timing of muscles in relation with kinetics and kinematics 28 , 29,30 .…”

Upper Limb Neuromuscular Activities and Synergies Comparison between Elite and Nonelite Athletics in Badminton Overhead Forehand Smash

“…Furthermore, we quantified the intrareliability and intragroup similarity of synergy using scalar product method. We followed the methods of previous study of Matsunaga et al [21, 28].…”

“…If we could clarify the factor to improve the performance using muscle synergy method in the current study, muscle synergy analysis may help not only badminton but also any other overhead motion the plan of training program to improve the performance. By filling this gap in the literature, we will have better insights regarding motor control in sports which will specifically improve high-speed overhead motion training [21].…”

Comparison of Modular Control during Side Cutting before and after Fatigue

“…Research on muscle synergy has been widely conducted in the fields of rehabilitation and neuroscience to evaluate activities of daily living, such as reaching tasks and locomotion [ 2 – 4 ]. In recent years, it has expanded to sports science and is expected to improve sports performance and prevent sports injuries [ 5 – 13 ].…”