Muscle synergy analysis of step cutting task in basketball athletes: preliminary results

It was reported that the risks of non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in female basketball athletes are significantly higher than that of male basketball athletes. However, the neuromuscular control mechanisms of gender differences in risk of ACL injury for side step cutting task are still not clear. In this study, muscle synergy analysis was used to explain the different neuromuscular control strategies between male and female basketball athletes in the 45° side step cutting task. In the experiment, electromyogram (EMG) data were recorded from 11 muscles of a dominant leg for each subject. The preliminary results showed that the female athletes exhibit lower hamstring activation and higher quadriceps activation during the 45° side step cutting task than that of male athletes. These differences may explain, to some extent, the gender disparity of anterior cruciate ligament injury rate.