Continuous and discrete electromyographic analysis of trunk and hip extensor musculature during the Biering-Sørensen test in athletes with a history of hamstring strain injury

Kellis, E, Giakas, G and Baltzopoulos, V ORCID: 0000-0003-2050-9501 (2026) Continuous and discrete electromyographic analysis of trunk and hip extensor musculature during the Biering-Sørensen test in athletes with a history of hamstring strain injury. Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology, 89. ISSN 1050-6411

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Abstract

This study examined electromyography (EMG) responses of trunk and hip extensor muscles during the Biering-Sørensen test in athletes with a history of hamstring strain injury (HSI). 34 athletes with HSI (occurring an average of 6.68 months prior to testing; 28 involving the biceps femoris long head (BFlh), 5 the semitendinosus, and 1 undefined) and 25 uninjured performed the Biering-Sørensen test. EMG signals were recorded from the erector spinae (ES), BFlh, and gluteus maximus (GMax). Group differences in continuous median frequency (MNF) and mean absolute value (MAV) waveforms were analyzed using statistical parametric mapping and slopes and initial values were examined using linear mixed-effects models. The HSI group demonstrated significantly lower endurance scores compared to controls (162.1 ± 64.4 s vs. 192.1 ± 47.4 s; p = 0.036). MNF waveforms did not differ between groups (p > 0.05). The ES normalized MAV values were significantly higher in the HSI group compared to the uninjured group during the initial and terminal phases of the task (p < 0.05). Athletes with HSI exhibited higher initial ES and BFlh MAV than controls as well as a lower GMax MNF slope in the full sample analysis (p = 0.019), although this effect was not confirmed in subgroup analyses. The altered EMG patterns in athletes with HSI history likely contribute to reduced endurance and suggest that rehabilitation should prioritize re-establishing balance contribution across the trunk and hip extensors.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Muscle, Skeletal; Hip Joint; Humans; Athletic Injuries; Sprains and Strains; Exercise Test; Electromyography; Muscle Contraction; Adult; Female; Male; Young Adult; Torso; Hamstring Muscles; Biering-Sørensen test; Electromyography (EMG); Hamstring strain injury; Linear mixed models; Lumbopelvic coordination; Statistical parametric mapping (SPM1D); 4201 Allied Health and Rehabilitation Science; 42 Health Sciences; 1106 Human Movement and Sports Sciences; Sport Sciences; 3202 Clinical sciences; 4207 Sports science and exercise
Subjects:	R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC1200 Sports Medicine
Divisions:	Sport and Exercise Sciences
Publisher:	Elsevier
Date of acceptance:	17 May 2026
Date of first compliant Open Access:	14 July 2026
Date Deposited:	14 Jul 2026 13:10
Last Modified:	14 Jul 2026 13:10
DOI or ID number:	10.1016/j.jelekin.2026.103178
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/29010

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