Yu Jialiang, Li Mingda, Chen Zhiyuan
School of Sport Training, Chengdu Sport University, Chengdu, China.
Graduate School, Harbin Sport University, Harbin, China.
Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2025 Jul 30;13:1639807. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2025.1639807. eCollection 2025.
This study aimed to reveal the differences in lower limb joint kinematic characteristics and muscle synergy patterns during the Axel jump between amateur and elite figure skaters, providing a theoretical basis for scientific training. Research on this topic, especially regarding in-depth analysis of detailed lower limb joint kinematics and muscle synergy patterns, remains insufficient.
Three-dimensional motion capture systems and surface electromyography (sEMG) were used to synchronously collect kinematic and sEMG data from subjects during the approach, take-off, and flight phases of the Axel jump. OpenSim was used to process data on lower limb joint angle changes. Non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) was employed to analyze muscle synergies, muscle weighting, and activation coefficients.
Significant differences (P < 0.05) were found in the dynamic changes of multiple left lower limb joint angles between elite and amateur athletes during the approach-to-take-off phase. Specifically, significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed in hip flexion/extension (1%-13%), abduction/adduction (49%-53%), and external/internal rotation (1%-2%) angles at specific intervals of the movement cycle. Similarly, significant differences (P < 0.05) were found in knee flexion/extension (49%-51%), ankle dorsiflexion/plantarflexion (54%), and subtalar joint dorsiflexion/plantarflexion (21%) angles. Muscle synergy analysis revealed six synergies for the amateur group and five for the elite group. In synergy 1, related to the initial phase of the movement, the contribution weight of the left tibialis anterior was significantly higher in elite athletes (F = 15.21, P = 0.0005). In synergy 2, elite athletes activated their primary muscles during the approach-to-take-off transition phase (38%-62%), which was earlier and more concentrated than the activation in amateur athletes during the take-off-to-flight phase (59%-78%).
The approach and take-off phases of the Axel jump are crucial for distinguishing between amateur and elite athletes. Elite athletes demonstrate more coordinated and efficient movement strategies and exhibit superior motor performance in the activation timing of key muscles. This suggests that training should focus on enhancing lower limb control capabilities and the early, efficient activation of key muscles during these phases.
本研究旨在揭示业余和优秀花样滑冰运动员在阿克塞尔跳（Axel jump）过程中下肢关节运动学特征和肌肉协同模式的差异，为科学训练提供理论依据。关于这一主题的研究，特别是对详细的下肢关节运动学和肌肉协同模式的深入分析，仍然不足。
使用三维运动捕捉系统和表面肌电图（sEMG）在阿克塞尔跳的助滑、起跳和腾空阶段同步收集受试者的运动学和sEMG数据。使用OpenSim处理下肢关节角度变化的数据。采用非负矩阵分解（NMF）分析肌肉协同、肌肉权重和激活系数。
在优秀运动员和业余运动员从助滑到起跳阶段，多个左下肢关节角度的动态变化存在显著差异（P<0.05）。具体而言，在运动周期的特定时间段，髋关节屈伸（1%-13%）、外展/内收（49%-53%）和内外旋（1%-2%）角度存在显著差异（P<0.05）。同样，膝关节屈伸（49%-51%）、踝关节背屈/跖屈（54%）和距下关节背屈/跖屈（21%）角度也存在显著差异（P<0.05）。肌肉协同分析显示，业余组有六种协同模式，优秀组有五种。在与运动初始阶段相关的协同模式1中，优秀运动员左胫骨前肌的贡献权重显著更高（F=15.21，P=0.0005）。在协同模式2中，优秀运动员在从助滑到起跳的过渡阶段激活其主要肌肉（38%-62%），这比业余运动员在起跳至腾空阶段（59%-78%）的激活更早且更集中。
阿克塞尔跳的助滑和起跳阶段对于区分业余和优秀运动员至关重要。优秀运动员表现出更协调、高效的运动策略，并且在关键肌肉的激活时机上表现出卓越的运动表现。这表明训练应着重于在这些阶段增强下肢控制能力以及关键肌肉的早期、高效激活。
