Sequential muscle activity and its functional role in the upper extremity and trunk during overarm throwing

Abstract

The proximal-to-distal segmental sequence has been identified in many sports activities, including baseball pitching and ball kicking. However, proximal-to-distal sequential muscle activity has not been identified. The aims of this study were to establish whether sequential muscle activity does occur and, if it does, to determine its functional role. We recorded surface electromyograms (EMGs) for 17 muscles from the upper extremity and abdomen during overarm throwing and detected the onset and peak times as indices of muscle activity. The following electromyographic properties were commonly identified in the participants. First, sequential muscle activity was observed from the scapular protractors to the shoulder horizontal flexors and from the shoulder horizontal flexors to the elbow extensor, but not from the elbow extensor to the wrist flexor or forearm pronator. Secondly, the external oblique contralateral to the throwing arm became activated before the ipsilateral external oblique. This sequence is considered to be very effective for the generation of high force and energy in the trunk. Thirdly, the ipsilateral external oblique began its activity almost at foot strike. Finally, the main activity of the rectus abdominis appeared just before the point of release.

Kinematic and electromyographic analyses of a karate punch

“…Additionally, the forearm extension reached a greater peak angular speed than the arm flexion, suggesting some speed transference from the proximal limb to the distal during movement (Van Gheluwe and Hebbelink, 1985;Putnam, 1993;Hirashima et al, 2002). This could result in an increasing of speed and power on the punch execution.…”

Characterization of kinesiological patterns of the frontal kick, mae-geri, in karate experts and non-karate practitioners

“…In the movement of those segments, the speed peak occurs more proximal to the instant of contact with the bag in the ankle, where the highest value of speed was verified, but increased progressively from the hip to the ankle. This suggests the existence of speed transference from the proximal to the distal segment during movement (Hirashima, Kadota, Sakurai, Kudo & Ohtsuki, 2002), and that could result in an increase of speed and power in the maegeri execution. However, the karateka group achieved a maximum speed earlier than the non-karateka group only for the proximal segment, which may be the result of the training followed by the empirical approach.…”

Trunk muscle activation during golf swing: Baseline and threshold

“…for EO on the left side, due to the fact that the trunk rotation movement was initiated by the right side. Hirashima et al (2002) analyzed trunk, shoulder and upper limb muscle action for a ball throw. They confirmed that EO contralateral to the arm which performs the throw is activated first, regarding EO ipsilateral.…”

“…In explosive and precise motor tasks, as throwing, the trunk muscles sequence plays an important role in the organization of the proximo-distal sequence in order to transfer energy (Hirashima et al, 2002). This mechanism leads to an increase of speed in distal segments.…”

“…For golf swinging several phases can be discriminated, such as the preparation (backswing), execution (downswing) and result (follow-through). Some authors have opted to include descriptive and qualitative movement analysis, due to activity characteristics and particular muscle actions (Hirashima et al, 2002;McGill et al, 2010).…”