The laterality of myoelectrical activity during "suburi" movement in kendoists

Abstract

It has been shown that there is a lateral superiority in the circumference of the forearm among kendoist. However, the mechanism responsible for this laterality is still unknown. To examine the possibility that the myoelectrical activity of the forearm muscles affects the lateral superiority of forearm circumference, we recorded the myoelectrical activity from the forearm muscles during "suburi" movement in five subjects. Surface electrodes were used for recording from the superficial extensor and flexor muscles, and intramuscular electrodes were used for the supinator and pronator teres. Subsequently, the cross-sectional areas of each muscle were measured from magnetic resonance images of the right and left sides. The results indicated that there was a dominant difference in the characteristics of myoelectrical activity during "suburi" between the right and left forearms. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that the laterality of forearm circumference could be affected by the laterality of myoelectrical activity of the forearm muscles during various movements in kendo.