Low Activation of Knee Extensors and High Activation of Knee Flexors in Female Fencing Athletes Is Related to the Response Time during the Marche-Fente

Tae-Whan Kim, Jin-seok Lee and Iseul Jo
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Tae-Whan Kim: Korea Institute of Sport Science, Seoul 01794, Republic of Korea
Jin-seok Lee: Department of Physical Education, Daegu National University of Education, Daegu 42411, Republic of Korea
Iseul Jo: Department of Physical Education, Graduate School of Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 20, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Reaction time is important to determine the performance of fencing. The purpose of this study was to investigate the reaction time and muscle activity and compare the movement among genders during Marche-fente. Fifteen Korean national Fleuret fencing athletes participated and were instructed to perform Marche-fente. Reaction time was measured with Plug & Play equipment and muscle activation was obtained by electromyography. The male athletes (0.94 ± 0.08 s) were faster than female athletes, who a performance of 1.03 ± 0.05 s. As the knee extensors activation was increased, the movement and response time was shorter (rectus femoris (RF); r = ?0.526, p < 0.05, vastus lateralis oblique (VLO); r = ?0.628, p < 0.05). In phase 1, men activated more knee extensors in the dominant leg, whereas the activation of knee flexors was increased to maintain a stable posture in women. Additionally, women used other muscles instead of large muscles such as RF and VLO in phase 2. In conclusion, female athletes activated knee flexors rather than knee extensors when moving the center of mass or generating a greater force. Less use of knee extensors is associated with knee injuries; therefore, exercise which activates knee extensors is required for females.

Keywords: fencing; gender; quadriceps; hamstring; electromyography (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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