Evaluating kayak paddling skills in term of muscular activity

Research Project

Project/Area Number	24650391
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
Allocation Type	Multi-year Fund
Research Field	Sports science
Research Institution	National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya
Principal Investigator	NAKAMURA NATSUMI 鹿屋体育大学, スポーツ・武道実践科学系, 准教授 (30287817)
Project Period (FY)	2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
Project Status	Completed (Fiscal Year 2014)
Budget Amount *help	¥3,250,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥750,000) Fiscal Year 2014: ¥650,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥150,000) Fiscal Year 2013: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000) Fiscal Year 2012: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
Keywords	カヌースプリント / カヤック / 水上パドリング / 筋電図 / 筋放電様相
Outline of Final Research Achievements	To assess kayak paddling skills, we evaluated kayak paddling performance by monitoring the muscle recruitment patterns and by investigating differences in paddling movements between paddling on an ergometer and on a kayak. Seven healthy subjects with kayak paddling experience took part in this study (males; 20.3±1.1 years). Electromyographic signal data indicated that muscle recruitment patterns during paddling on an ergometer included the latissimus dorsi and abdominal external oblique muscles. However, a paddler on a kayak applies propulsive force while maintaining balance in the boat. Thus, when paddling on a kayak, electromyographic signals were observed continuously from all muscle groups throughout the entire period of paddling. These results suggest that the“skills” of paddling on a kayak are related to muscle recruitment during the phase of paddling that did not affect the propulsive force. However, more electromyographic data needs to be collected from paddlers on a kayak.