Title: Biomechanical characteristics of knee flexion-extension in underwater situation

Authors: Weibing Zhang; Yin Luo; Jianyue Zheng; Michael Graham

Addresses: Human Movement Research Center, Faculty of Sports Science, Ningbo University, Zhejiang 315211, China ' Human Movement Research Center, Faculty of Sports Science, Ningbo University, Zhejiang 315211, China ' Human Movement Research Center, Faculty of Sports Science, Ningbo University, Zhejiang 315211, China ' Institute of Health, Medical Science and Society Science, Glyndwr University, Wrexham, Wales, UK

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to observe the muscle activity and knee kinematics characteristics during the process of knee rehabilitation training. Ten healthy college students from sports institutions were recruited as subjects. Electromyographic (EMG) signals from quadriceps femoris and hamstrings were recorded during the task in which subjects were instructed to complete the motion of knee flexion and extension once and repetitively apart. The results showed that the EMG of the agonist muscle was activated and peaked before there was any motion of the knee. In the rehabilitation training mode, the knee angular velocity curve and peak value were similar. Collectively, these findings suggest that the single motion of knee flexion and extension is conducive to developing agonist strength.

Keywords: sports biomechanics; knee flexion; knee extension; underwater muscle activity; sEMG; surface EMG; electromyography; knee kinematics; knee rehabilitation; quadriceps femoris; hamstrings; rehabilitation training; angular velocity curve; peak value; agonist strength.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBET.2014.064645

International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, 2014 Vol.15 No.3, pp.189 - 197

Received: 20 Feb 2014
Accepted: 30 Apr 2014

Published online: 21 Oct 2014 *

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