Electromyografic study of the arms in competitive karting senior category drivers

Abstract

The main goal of this cross-sectional study was to assess the muscular activity of the upper limbs in competitive kart drivers while driving in a closed karting circuit, using surface electromyography (EMGS). The most significant muscles of the upper limbs while driving were evaluated in thirteen drivers. Linear mixed models adjusted to a gamma distribution were used to evaluate differences in muscle activity based on the arm, number of laps, track characteristics, and kart type (with/without gears). Significant differences were found between muscle activity according to the type of kart (p <0.0001). Although changes were observed in the mean EMGS values, there were no significant differences between the laps of the circuit or the dominant arm. However, the results showed that there was a significant interaction between the type of kart and the dominant arm (p = 0.021). Muscle activity increased more significantly in the curves traced towards the dominant arms of the drivers.

El objetivo del estudio transversal fue analizar la actividad muscular de las extremidades superiores en pilotos senior de karting de competici6n, mediante electromiografia de superficie (EMGS). Se evaluaron los musculos mas significativos de las extremidades superiores durante la conducci6n en trece conductores. Se utilizaron modelos lineales mixtos ajustados a una distribuci6n gamma para evaluar diferencias de actividad muscular en base al brazo, numero de vueltas, caracterf sticas del trazado, y tipo de kart ( con/sin march as). Se encontraron diferencias significativas entre la actividad muscular segun el tipo de kart (p<0,0001 ). Aunque se observaron cambios en los valores medios de EMGS, no hubo diferencias significativas entre las vueltas del circuito o el brazo dominante. Sin embargo, los resultados mostraron que hubo una interaccion significativa entre el tipo de kart y el brazo dominante (p=0,021 ). La actividad muscular aument6 de manera mas significativa en las curvas trazadas hacia el brazo dominante de los conductores.