Electromyography comparisons of lower extremity muscles during maximum velocity instep soccer kicks

Abstract

This study was conducted to compare the muscle activation of selected lower extremity muscles during maximum velocity instep kicks and establishing a relationship between muscle activation and ball velocity. Thirty-three male subjects were recruited for the study, and muscle activity of the rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, biceps femoris and tibialis anterior of both the kicking leg and the supporting leg was recorded. A significant difference was found between the muscle activation of selected muscles (F (7,256) =20.63, p<0.001, partial eta squared =0.361). Further analysis revealed that the tibialis anterior of the supporting leg had the highest muscle activation during instep kicks. The study also revealed higher muscle activity in the biceps femoris of the kicking limb. A Pearson product-moment correlation found a negative relationship between the vastus lateralis of kicking leg and ball velocity (r=-0.454, p=0.008). The study concludes that the ankle muscles of supporting legs are responsible for absorbing and resisting the external force from the ground during instep kicks; it also demonstrates greater activation among all muscles. Greater muscle activity is shown by biceps femoris in the kicking leg; therefore, strengthening exercises for ankle and hamstring muscles are necessary and should be included in training sessions of soccer players.