Affiliations: [a] Department of Health Sciences, Örebro University,
Örebro, Sweden | [b] Department of Biomedical Engineering and Informatics,
University Hospital, Umeå Sweden | [c] Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Faculty of
Health Sciences, Linköping, Sweden | [d] Pain and Rehabilitation Centre, University Hospital,
Linköping, Sweden
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Fawzi Kadi, PhD., Department of
Physical Education and Health, Örebro University, 70182 Örebro, Sweden.
Tel.: 46 19 301160; Fax: 46 19 303486; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: The assessment of thigh adductors' strength and endurance and
electromyographical (EMG) characteristics has received little attention
compared to other muscle groups. The aim of this study was to investigate
strength, endurance performance and EMG characteristics of m. adductor
longus and m. gracilis during concentric thigh adduction in soccer and
bandy players. Muscular endurance was evaluated using the torque reduction
during 70 repeated maximum concentric adductions at an angular velocity of
60°/s. The EMG mean frequency (MNF) and the signal
amplitude ratio (SAR, index for muscles' ability to relax between contractions)
were analysed. Peak torque decreased significantly throughout the test and no
significant differences were found between the two groups. In both muscles, MNF
decreased significantly throughout the test. There were no significant
differences in MNF and in SAR variables between soccer and bandy players. In
conclusion, the present findings reveal a number of significant aspects related
to strength and electromyography of hip adductors.
