Comparison of electromyographic activity of quadriceps and hamstrings of elite male and female soccer players during single-leg landing movement

The aim of the present study was to compare the electromyographic activity of quadriceps muscles and hamstrings of male and female professional soccer players in a single-leg landing movement.The samples were 38 professional football players in Tehran province (19 women and 19 men). Electromyographic activity of quadriceps muscles and hamstrings were measured during the single-leg landing test. Independent t-test was used to compare muscle activity and timing of quadriceps and hamstrings in men and women.The results of this study revealed that there was a significant difference between men and women professional footballers between feedforward activity of rectus femoris muscles (P = 0.05),Vastus medialis (P = 0.05), Vastus lateralis (P = 0.05), feedback activity of Semitendinosus muscles (P = 0.05) and Biceps femoris(P = 0.05) . The induction of Semitendinosus muscles of women compared to men was reported with delay (p = 0.006). Also, early activation of Vastus lateralis muscles in women was observed compared to men (p = 0.001).As shown in this study, more feedforward activity of female quadriceps muscles, delayed onset of Semitendinosus activity and early activation of Vastus-lateralis muscles in women than men, in the task of landing on one leg, make women more prone to ACL injury. it can be stated that one of the causes of ACL injury in women is the presence of defects in their neuro-muscular control system. As a result, strengthening and improving the nervous system of the hamstring muscles, especially in women, is recommended to prevent ACL ligament injury.