The relationship between asymmetry changes in the slope frequency of bioelectrical activity of the gluteus maximus muscles and experience in short track speed skating athletics

BACKGROUND: In short track speed skating, there is asymmetric fatigue of the gluteus maximus (GM) muscle resulting from the technique of skating. Scientific reports confirm the relationship between muscle fatigue and its change in the slope frequency of bioelectrical activity. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether athletic experience in elite short track speed skating can distinguish the asymmetry change in slope frequency of the raw electromyographic signal (EMG) of the GM muscle, influenced by the disparity in experience between junior and senior athletes. METHODS: In the research, an elite group of short track speed skating national team athletes Junior and Senior, participated. Isometric tension GM muscle was tested using the Biering-Sorensen test. RESULTS: The study confirmed differences in the asymmetry of slope frequences EMG signal in GM muscle between juniors and seniors in short track speed skating (p⩽ 0.001). Senior athletes showed greater slope frequences in the right GM muscle (p⩽ 0.002), while juniors showed greater in the left GM muscle (p⩽ 0.008). Intergroup analysis revealed significantly meaningful differences (p⩽ 0.001) in the level of slope frequences of the right GM muscle (juniors vs. seniors), highlighting the asymmetry resulting from experience. CONCLUSIONS: Statistically significant differences in the level of slope frequences of the right gluteus maximus muscle juniors vs. seniors were demonstrated, suggesting asymmetry due to experience and skating technique.