Regional differences in amplitude and spatial homogeneity of muscle activity in the biceps femoris long head

Abstract

Purpose: Hamstring injuries, particularly in the proximal Biceps femoris long head (BFlh), remain frequent in sports involving sprints and accelerations despite extensive research. Non-uniform muscle activity may contribute to these injuries by causing uneven load distribution. This study examines spatial homogeneity of muscle activity and amplitude in the proximal and distal BFlh at different knee flexion torque levels and muscle-tendon unit (MTU) lengths under controlled isometric conditions. Methods: Fifteen male recreational athletes performed unilateral isometric knee flexion contractions at three MTU lengths (0°, 45°, 90° hip flexion) and torque levels (30% MVC90, 60% MVC90, 90%MVC90) with high-density surface electromyography (HDsEMG) assessing proximal and distal activity. Results: The proximal BFlh exhibited lower spatial homogeneity and amplitude compared to the distal region across all conditions, with the largest homogeneity differences at lower torques and longer MTU lengths. Proximal homogeneity increased with torque and decreased with MTU length, while the distal region remained consistent. Amplitudes were lower proximally and decreased with MTU length in both regions. Conclusion: The proximal–distal differences in spatial homogeneity and amplitude within the BFlh reflect non-uniform activation patterns along the BFlh and the proximal regions lower spatial homogeneity and amplitude of activation reflect non-uniform patterns, possibly contributing to injury risk.