Relationship between latent trigger points, lower limb asymmetry and muscle fatigue in elite short-track athletes

Konieczny, Mariusz ; Skorupska, Elzbieta ; Domaszewski, Przemyslaw ; Pakosz, Pawel ; Skulska, Marta ; Herrero, Pablo (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: Background
Short-track speed skating movement involves asymmetric overloading of the lower left side of the body. The gluteus maximus fatigue limits the physical and mental athletic capacity to perform set tasks. A possible link between the presence of latent trigger points (LTrPs) and muscle fatigue development/persistence has been posited. The aim of the study was to determine whether elite short-track speed skating can result in the impairment of the musculoskeletal system of the lower limbs.

Methods
Elite short-track athletes as the experimental group (EXP) = 9, 19.5 ± 1.8 years, and healthy subjects as the control group (CON) = 18, 20.8 ± 1.2 years, were tested for: (i) lower limb loading asymmetry using ground reaction force (GRF) measurements during quiet standing, (ii) gluteus maximus fatigue measured with surface electromyography (sEMG) during the Biering-Sorensen test, and (iii) LTrPs presence in the 14 examined muscles of the pelvic girdle and lower limbs.

Results
There were between-group differences in the number of LTrPs, with the EXP group (left lower limb (LLL) n = 18, right lower limb (RLL) n = 9) showing more LTrPs compared to the CON group (LLL n = 2, RLL n = 1), (p < 0.001), and within-group differences in the EXP group only (p < 0.001). There were also significant differences in muscle fatigue for the left side (p < 0.001) both between the groups and within the EXP group (p ≤ 0.001). The vertical ground reaction force (GRF) measurement showed a loading rate of 2% (p = 0.013) in the athletes’ LLL exclusively.

Conclusions
The study confirmed an increased prevalence of LTrPs, increased muscle fatigue and left-sided limb load asymmetry in elite short-track athletes.

Trial registration
The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Ethics Committee of the Poznan University of Medical Sciences (Resolution No 110/22 of 10 March 2022). Trial registration: 20/07/2022, Trial Id: ACTRN12622001016729.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1186/s13102-023-00719-y

Año: 2023

Publicado en: BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation 15 (2023), 109 [6 pp.]
ISSN: 2052-1847

Factor impacto JCR: 2.1 (2023)

Categ. JCR: REHABILITATION rank: 40 / 170 = 0.235 (2023) - Q1 - T1
Categ. JCR: SPORT SCIENCES rank: 51 / 127 = 0.402 (2023) - Q2 - T2

Factor impacto CITESCORE: 3.0 - Rehabilitation (Q2) - Orthopedics and Sports Medicine (Q2) - Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation (Q2)

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 0.666 - Orthopedics and Sports Medicine (Q2) - Rehabilitation (Q2) - Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation (Q2)

Tipo y forma: Artículo (Versión definitiva)

Área (Departamento): Área Fisioterapia (Dpto. Fisiatría y Enfermería)