A Novel Approach to Analyzing Wrestling Skills: Multidimensional Recurrence Quantification Analysis of Muscle Activity

Background: As athletes develop, their motor patterns evolve from variable to adaptive neuromuscular control strategies, enabling precise execution of complex movements. Traditional linear biomechanical analyses of wrestling techniques often focus on averaged data points, overlooking motor pattern variability and nonlinear dynamic characteristics. Understanding these nonlinear dynamics can enhance skill acquisition, injury prevention, and training optimization. This study is the first to apply multidimensional recurrence quantification analysis (MDRQA) of electromyography (EMG) signals to compare motor patterns in elite and sub-elite wrestlers during a shadow freestyle tie-up drill (SFTUD).Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive-analytical observational study recorded EMG signals from the triceps, biceps, anterior deltoid, and latissimus dorsi of the dominant upper limb during a 15-second SFTUD. Determinism (%DET) and laminarity (%LAM) were used to assess repeatability and stability, while diagonal (EntL) and vertical (EntV) entropy measured complexity and adaptability.Results: Elite wrestlers exhibited significantly higher %DET and %LAM, indicating greater consistency in their motor patterns. Elevated EntL and EntV values further suggest enhanced complexity and adaptability in neuromuscular control, reflecting the chaotic dynamics associated with superior performance.Conclusion: These findings underscore the importance of nonlinear motor pattern dynamics in the development of wrestling skill. MDRQA can identify expertise-related movement patterns, enabling coaches and practitioners to design targeted training programs that optimize performance and reduce injury risk.