Asymmetrical fatiguing of the gluteus maximus muscles in the elite short-track female skaters.
Abstract Background: According to research, fast skating on short distances causes asymmetry in the physiology of muscle work. As has been proven in many sporting disciplines, this asymmetry can increase the risk of injury. The aim of the study was to analyze the level of right and left fatigue asymmetry of gluteus maximus muscle in elite skaters on a short track and to compare this phenomenon to a control group. The muscles were chosen deliberately, due to their influence in maintaining the right position during training on ice. Methods: The experiment compared a group of eight members of the Polish Women’s National Team in short track with a group of eight non-training people. The subjects did the Biering-Sorensen test, in which sEMG (surface electromyography) signal frequency was measured in the gluteus maximus muscles during an isometric contraction. Fatigue slopes were analyzed with a one-way ANOVA with repeated measures.. In the skaters, the fatigue differed between the right and the left gluteus maximus muscles. All the skaters had higher fatigue in the right leg. This phenomenon was not observed in the non-training subjects, who on average had similar fatigue in both legs. Results: The results suggest that professional short-track training leads to considerable asymmetry in fatigability of gluteus maximus muscles, thereby increasing the risk of injury in training and competition. Conclusions: Training should thus be planned in a way that minimizes the risk of causing muscle fatigue asymmetry in skaters despite the typically asymmetrical muscle work during training on ice and competition, thus new trainign protocols should be developed or considered to decrease that asymmetry. Trial registration: The tests were previously approved by the Bioethical Commission of the Chamber of Physicians in Opole. (Resolution No. 235 of 13 December 2016).