BIOMECHANICAL AND ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF THE MUSCULOSKELETAL ACTIVITY OF ATHLETES DURING WEIGHTLIFTING EXERCISES

The purpose of the study was to develop a protocol for diagnostics and testing of the functional status of musculoskeletal system of weightlifters.

Research methods and organization. The study involved elite weightlifters aged 18 to 25 years. Protocol development and testing was executed using the BTS Motion System (BTS Bioengineering, Italy).

Results and discussion. Protocols of ‘jerk’ and ‘push’ competitive weightlifting exercises for the BTS motion system were developed for diagnostics and testing of the musculoskeletal system (MSS) of weightlifters. We used those protocols to determine the functional status of MSS of weightlifters by biomechanical and electromyographic characteristics. The study revealed differences in the functional status characteristics of the musculoskeletal system of male weightlifters performing the push exercise compared to women: women showed lower deviation values of the sports apparatus relative to the starting position, and men demonstrated higher velocity indicators of the sports apparatus. We identified the leg muscles experiencing the greatest load during weightlifting exercises: rectus femoris, biceps femoris, long peroneal muscle. We revealed the correlation between biomechanical characteristics of movements in various phases of weightlifting exercises and indicators of the electrical activity of the muscles providing these movements.

Conclusion. Gender differences in the functional indices of MSS during jerk and push exercises are as follows: women show lower deviation values of the sports apparatus relative to the starting position, and men demonstrate higher velocity indicators of the sports apparatus. Shorter body and limbs of women in the first case, and better speed and strength abilities of men in the second case can explain it. Reduced initial electrical activity of the muscles, i.e. their relaxation, and the greatest activity in the same movement phase are favorable for the manifestation of speed-power characteristics of the subsequent movement.

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