# Application of Wireless EMG Sensors for Assessing Agonist–Antagonist Muscle Activity During 50-m Sprinting in Athletes

## TL;DR

This study shows that wireless EMG sensors can reliably monitor muscle activity in sprinters, revealing coordination patterns linked to performance and injury prevention.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates the feasibility of wireless EMG during sprinting and identifies individual and shared muscle coordination strategies.

## Key findings

- Continuous high-quality EMG was feasible with mobile-receiver configurations during sprinting.
- BF activity in the late swing phase correlated with sprint velocity, suggesting a role in performance.
- Sol/TA coactivation was consistent, indicating a role in ankle stabilization.

## Abstract

Background: Wireless surface electromyography (sEMG) enables the investigation of neuromuscular control in realistic sports settings; however, ensuring reliable signal acquisition during sprinting remains challenging. This study examined the feasibility of continuous wireless EMG recording in sprinting athletes and evaluated their agonist–antagonist coordination patterns. Methods: Ten trained sprinters performed four maximal 50-m sprints on a force plate–equipped track. sEMG was recorded from the biceps femoris (BF), rectus femoris (RF), soleus (Sol), and tibialis anterior (TA) under two receiver configurations: fixed-receiver condition (FRC) and mobile-receiver condition (MRC). Integrated EMG, kinematics, and cross-correlation analyses were performed on a stride-by-stride basis. Results: Continuous high-quality EMG was feasible under MRC, highlighting the practical importance of maintaining receiver proximity in sprint experiments. BF activity during the late swing phase correlated positively with sprint velocity, supporting the performance relevance of pawing. BF/RF interactions varied substantially across individuals, whereas Sol/TA were consistently coactivated, indicating ankle stabilization. Conclusions: Wireless EMG enables reliable in-field monitoring of sprinting athletes, revealing both individualized and shared coordination strategies relevant to performance and injury prevention in athletes.