This study was conducted to investigate i) while the shoulder was in 180° of flexion and the elbow extended, which of the forearm position (supination, pronation and neutral) can generate the greatest handgrip strength, ii) is there any correlation of the handgrip strength between the dominant hand (right hand) and non-dominant hand (left hand) in each forearm position, and iii) will the dominant hand possessed 10% higher handgrip strength than the non-dominant hand. 100 right handed sedentary active students age 22.20 years old (± 1.03), height 172.83 cm (± 6.37), body mass 68.87 (± 11.52) and grip position 3.77 (± 0.77) were recruited in this study. The result indicated that for both the dominant and non-dominant hand, when the shoulder is in 180˚ flexion of the body with the elbow extended, the greatest grip strength was obtained when the forearm was in neutral position followed by pronation and supination position. Post Hoc analysis showed that for both dominant hand and non-dominant hand, pronation and supination forearm position produced greater strength score compared to supination forearm position (p0.05). In all forearm position, participants were shown to produced significantly greater strength in their dominant hand and all the scores were more than 10% greater compared to when using non-dominant hand. Positive relationships were also found for the strength score between dominant hand and non-dominant hand. As the conclusion, different shoulder, elbow and forearm position can affect handgrip strength.
Journal of Sports Science and Physical Education 5(2): 15-23, 2016 - This study was
conducted to determine the relationship between lower body muscle architectures and lunges
performance. Thirty recreationally active, untrained men (mean age = 22.21 ± 1.59 yrs old)
were recruited and involved in two testing sessions; i) anthropometrics and muscle
architecture, and ii) multiple-repetition maximum (RM) lunge test. Muscle thickness,
pennation angle and fascicle length of vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis (VM), rectus
femoris (RF) and biceps femoris (BF) were analysed using ultrasonography. Multiple-RM
lunge testing was used as an estimation of 1RM lunges performance. Correlation analysis was
used to determine the relationship between lower body muscle architectures and lunges
performance calculated absolutely and relatively (1RM/body mass). The overall results
showed that muscle thickness and pennation angle of all muscles were significantly positive
correlated with lunges performance. However, fascicle length was shown to be negatively
correlated with lunges performance. Findings of this study suggested the important for having
thicker, more pennated and shorter fascicle of lower body muscle in enhancing lunges
performances that is one of the most specific movements in sport.
As a way to enhance performance in sports, apart from in-field or in court training, athletes are recommended to adopt resistance training into their training routine. As an exercise that needs the performer to split their legs, lunge is suggested to be included as an exercise in a training session. Various researches had been conducted on lunge and several findings showed different methods or protocols of lunge affect the kinematics, kinetics muscle activation and fascicle behaviour response during the exercise. Although not much study conducted on the chronic adaptations, the existing studies suggested that performers should well plan the training protocols as this will cause different training adaptations.
This study was conducted to determine and compare the muscle activity during step forward lunge (SFL) and jump forward lunge (JFL) in badminton. Fifteen university badminton players (mean age = 22.07 ± 1.39 years old) were recruited and were assigned to perform SFL and JFL while holding a badminton racquet using their preferred hand. Muscle activation of vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis (VM), rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF), gluteus maximus (GM), medial gastrocnemius (MG), and lateral gastrocnemius (LG) were analysed and compared between SFL and JFL and also between dominant and non-dominant lower limb in each lunge protocol. Results showed for both the dominant and non-dominant lower limb, all the muscle activation was greater during JFL compared to SFL except for the MG muscle. All the muscle activation was also found to be greater in the dominant compared to non-dominant lower limb for both lunge protocols. Overall, findings demonstrated the existence of differences in muscle activation across difference protocols of movement and different site of limbs. This should be taken into consideration for developing training program in order to enhance performance and reduce the risk of injuries.
Journal of Sports Science and Physical Education 6(2): 36-44, 2017 – This study was conducted to determine and compare the fascicle behaviour during step forward lunge (SFL) and jump forward lunge (JFL) in badminton. Fifteen university badminton players (mean age = 22.07 ± 1.39 years old) were recruited and were assigned to perform SFL and JFL while holding a badminton racquet using their dominant hand. Fascicle length, pennation angle, lengthening and shortening velocity of their vastus lateralis muscle were analysed using ultrasonography method. In both dominant and non-dominant lower limb, FLmax, FLmin, PAmax and PAmin were all greater during JFL compared to SFL, p < 0.001. During both SFL and JFL, all the fascicle behaviour variables were greater in the dominant limb compared to non-dominant limb. To conclude, as the fascicle behaviour response would indicate more muscle adaptation, the stimuli were found to be greater during JFL compared to SFL.