This study aimed to compare the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the Rectus Femoris muscle in national-level high jumpers and long jumpers during vertical jump tasks. Ten male athletes from each group participated, and surface EMG was used to record muscle activation in both legs. The EMG signals were normalized to maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC) for analysis. Results showed no significant difference between right and left Rectus Femoris activation within groups. However, high jumpers demonstrated significantly higher activation in the left Rectus Femoris compared to long jumpers (p = 0.006), likely due to the unilateral take-off technique characteristic of high jump. No significant differences were found for the right leg. These findings suggest sport-specific neuromuscular adaptations in jumpers, emphasizing the need for targeted training strategies to enhance performance and reduce injury risk. Surface EMG provides valuable insights into muscle activation patterns relevant to athletic conditioning and technique refinement.
Anil Prakash Shetty (Thu,) studied this question.