Muscle Imbalance and Overuse in Elite Junior Short-Track Speed Skaters

A study from Poland investigates the impact of short-track speed skating on the muscles of athletes, particularly focusing on the left lower limb. Short-track speed skating is an Olympic sport where athletes maintain a specific body position and move in a counterclockwise direction around the track. Due to the repetitive nature of the movements and the sustained postures required in this sport, the researchers hypothesized that these factors could lead to asymmetrical overuse disorders in the muscles of the left lower limb.

To test this hypothesis, the study compared the number of latent trigger points and the level of resting muscle tone between two groups: elite junior short-track athletes and healthy young individuals who do not engage in high-level sports. Latent trigger points are areas within muscles that are prone to tightness and can cause pain or discomfort, especially under stress or strain. Resting muscle tone refers to the level of tension in a muscle when it is at rest, which can indicate underlying issues such as muscle stiffness or imbalance.

The experimental group consisted of 15 elite junior short-track athletes from the Polish national team, while the control group included 15 healthy young volunteers. The study specifically focused on the left leg of participants from both groups, as this leg typically bears more stress in short-track speed skating due to the counterclockwise movement around the track.

The researchers assessed the presence of latent trigger points and measured the resting muscle tone in six different muscles of the left leg using surface electromyography, a technique that records muscle electrical activity.

The results showed that the elite short-track athletes had a significantly higher number of latent trigger points in their left lower limb muscles compared to the healthy non-athletes. Among the muscles examined, the vastus lateralis oblique, a muscle on the outside of the thigh, was found to be the most affected in the athletes. This muscle not only had the highest number of latent trigger points but also exhibited a significantly higher level of resting muscle tone in the athletes compared to the control group. This finding suggests that the vastus lateralis oblique muscle is particularly prone to overuse and stiffness in short-track speed skaters.

In conclusion, the study found that elite junior short-track athletes exhibit increased muscle tension and a greater number of latent trigger points, particularly in the vastus lateralis oblique muscle, compared to healthy non-athletes. These findings indicate that the repetitive and specific physical demands of short-track speed skating may contribute to the development of muscle imbalances and overuse disorders, especially in the muscles of the left lower limb.