Longer Electromechanical Delay Impairs Hamstrings Explosive Force versus Quadriceps

Hannah, Ricci; Minshull, Claire; Smith, Stephanie L.; Folland, Jonathan P.

Abstract

Introduction

Explosive neuromuscular performance refers to the ability to rapidly increase force in response to neuromuscular activation. The lower explosive force production of the hamstrings relative to the quadriceps could compromise knee joint stability and increase the risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury. However, the time course of the rise in explosive force of the hamstrings and quadriceps from their initial activation, and thus the explosive hamstrings-to-quadriceps (H/Q) force ratio, has not been documented.

Methods

The neuromuscular performance of 20 untrained males was assessed during a series of isometric knee flexion and extension contractions, with force and surface EMG of the hamstrings and quadriceps recorded during explosive and maximum voluntary contractions. Hamstrings force was expressed relative to quadriceps force to produce hamstring-to-quadriceps ratios of explosive H/Q force and H/Q maximum voluntary force. For the explosive contractions, agonist electromechanical delay (EMD), agonist and antagonist neural activation were assessed.

Results

The quadriceps was 79% stronger than the hamstrings, but quadriceps explosive force was up to 480% greater than the hamstrings from 25 to 50 ms after first activation. Consequently, the explosive H/Q force ratio was very low at 25 and 50 ms (0%–17%) and significantly different from H/Q maximum voluntary force ratio (56%). Hamstrings EMD was 95% greater than quadriceps EMD (44.0 vs 22.6 ms), resulting in a 21-ms later onset of force in the hamstrings that appeared to explain the low explosive H/Q force ratio in the early phase of activation.

Conclusions

Prolonged hamstrings EMD appears to impair early phase (0–50 ms) explosive force production relative to the quadriceps and may render the knee unstable and prone to anterior cruciate ligament injury during this period.

Citation

Hannah, R., Minshull, C., Smith, S. L., & Folland, J. P. (2014). Longer Electromechanical Delay Impairs Hamstrings Explosive Force versus Quadriceps. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 46(5), 963-972. https://doi.org/10.1249/mss.0000000000000188

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 1, 2013
• Publication Date: 2014-05
• Deposit Date: Jun 8, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 9, 2020
• Journal: Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
• Print ISSN: 0195-9131
• Publisher: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 46
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 963-972
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1249/mss.0000000000000188
• Keywords: Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation; Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/4604763
• Publisher URL: https://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/Fulltext/2014/05000/Longer_Electromechanical_Delay_Impairs_Hamstrings.15.aspx
• Additional Information: © 2014 American College of Sports Medicine