Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-mlc7c Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T13:17:52.012Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Electromyographic analysis of the rider's muscles at trot

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

K Terada ,
DR Mullineaux ,
J Lanovaz ,
K Kato  and
HM Clayton
K Terada
Affiliation:
Sophia University, 7–1 Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102–8554, Japan
DR Mullineaux
Affiliation:
Mary Anne McPhail Equine Performance Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
J Lanovaz
Affiliation:
Mary Anne McPhail Equine Performance Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
K Kato
Affiliation:
School of Sports Sciences, Waseda University, 2–579–15 Mikajima-tokorozawa, Saitama 359–1164, Japan
HM Clayton*
Affiliation:
Mary Anne McPhail Equine Performance Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
*
*[email protected]
Get access

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate rider muscle activity in relation to horse movement. Electromyographic (EMG) activity of 12 upper-body muscles was recorded simultaneously with the horse's footfall timing for six riders, riding the same horse at trot. Data for five strides were analysed for each rider. Rectus abdominis, upper trapezius, middle trapezius, flexor carpi radialis, biceps brachii, triceps brachii and middle deltoid muscles had constant patterns with two peaks occurring in the same phase of the stride in all riders. Peak EMG values in the upper trapezius and middle trapezius occurred in early stance, and were considered to stabilize the rider's neck and scapula during impact of the diagonal limbs. The rectus abdominis showed peak EMG activity in mid-stance to stabilize the trunk and enable the rider to follow the horse's movement by swinging the pelvis forward as the horse's body reversed direction from downward to upward motion. The triceps brachii, which was active during late stance, and the biceps brachii, which was activated early in stance, stabilized the rider's hands and maintained contact with the bit. Teres major, extensor carpi ulnaris and serratus anterior muscles had a small range of activity (33, 26 and 37%, respectively), consistent with tonic activation or were inactive, suggesting that their function may be related to general postural control.

Keywords

equestrian sportelectromyographyEMGhorseback riding
Type
Research Article
Information
Equine and Comparative Exercise Physiology , Volume 1 , Issue 3 , August 2004 , pp. 193 - 198
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2004

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Terada, K (2000). Comparison of head movement and EMG activity of muscles between advanced and novice horseback riders at different gaits. Journal of Equine Science 11: 83–90.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2Dietze, DV (1999). Balance in Movement: The Seat of the Rider. North Pomfret, VT: Trafalgar Square Publishing, pp. 63–84.Google Scholar
3Hoppenfeld, S (1976). Physical Examination of the Spine and Extremities. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.Google Scholar
4Farina, D, Merletti, R, Indino, B and Nazzaro, M (2002). Surface EMG crosstalk between knee extensor muscles; experimental and model results. Muscle & Nerve 26: 681–695.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5Paton, ME and Brown, JMM (1995). Function differentiation within latissimus dorsi. Electromyography and Clinical Neurophysiology 35: 301–309.Google ScholarPubMed
6Bauer, JA, Thomas, T, Cauraugh, JH, Kaminski, TW and Hass, CJ (2001). Impact forces and neck muscle activity in heading by collegiate female soccer players. Journal of Sports Sciences 19: 171–179.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7Araujo, RC, Duarte, M and Amadio, AC (2000). On the interand intra-subject variability of the electromyographic signal in isometric contractions. Electromyography and Clinical Neurophysiology 40: 225–229.Google Scholar
8Van Woensel, W and Arwert, H (1993). Effects of external load and abduction angle on EMG level of shoulder muscles during isometric action. Electromyography and Clinical Neurophysiology 33: 185–191.Google ScholarPubMed
9Clayton, HM, Lanovas, JL, Schamhardt, HC and Wessum, RV (1999). The effects of a rider's mass on ground reaction forces and fetlock kinematics at the trot. Equine Exercise Physiology 5: 218–221.Google Scholar
10Patla, AE (1993). Age-related changes in visually guided locomotion over different terrains: major issues. In: Stelmach, GE and Hömberg, V (eds) Sensorimotor Impairment in the Elderly. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers, pp. 231–252.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11Moseley, JB, Jobe, FW, Pink, M, Perry, J, and Tibone, J (1992). EMG analysis of the scapular muscles during a shoulder rehabilitation program. American Journal of Sports Medicine 20: 128–134.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12Tesh, KM, Dunn, JS and Evans, JH (1987). The abdominal muscles and vertebral stability. Spine 12: 501–508.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13Looze, MP, Groen, H, Horemans, H, Kingma, I and Dieën, JH (1999). Abdominal muscles contribute in a minor way to peak spinal compression in lifting. Journal of Biomechanics 32: 655–662.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
14Cresswell, AG, Oddsson, L and Thorstensson, A (1994). The influence of sudden perturbations on trunk muscle activity and intra abdominal pressure while standing. Experimental Brain Research 98: 336–341.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15Faber, M, Johnston, C, Weeren, PR and Barneveld, A (2002). Repeatability of back kinematics in horses during treadmill locomotion. Equine Veterinary Journal 34: 235–241.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16Hislop, HJ and Montgomery, J (2002). Daniels and Worthingham's Muscle Testing: Techniques of Manual Examination. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Company.Google Scholar