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

Mariusz Konieczny; Elżbieta Skorupska; Przemysław Domaszewski; Paweł Pakosz; Marta Skulska; Pablo Herrero

doi:10.1186/s13102-023-00719-y

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

BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2023 Sep 12;15(1):109. doi: 10.1186/s13102-023-00719-y.

Authors

Mariusz Konieczny¹, Elżbieta Skorupska², Przemysław Domaszewski³, Paweł Pakosz¹, Marta Skulska¹, Pablo Herrero⁴

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Opole University of Technology, Prószkowska 76, Opole, 45-068, Poland.
² Department of Physiotherapy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, 61-701, Poland. skorupska@ump.edu.pl.
³ Department of Health Sciences, Institute of Health Sciences, University of Opole, Katowicka 68, Opole, 45-060, Poland.
⁴ Faculty of Health Sciences, IIS Aragon, University of Zaragoza, Domingo Miral, s/n, Zaragoza, 50009, Spain.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Body balance; Electromyography; Elite athletes; Ground reaction force; Myofascial pain.