Mahendra Wahyu Dewangga, Rinna Ainul Maghfiroh, Adnan Faris Naufal, Dwi Rosella Komalasari, Safari Wahyu Jatmiko, Yuli Kusumawati, Taufik Eko Susilo, Tiara Fatmarizka, Satroda Muryanto, Wisnu Prasetyo Adhi, Dewa Made Krisna Viandara, Muhammad Azka Ni’am, Nur Afrina Azra, Anindita Antya Candrika, Dewangga Yudhistira, Yudha Febrianta, Wulan Adis Aranti, Haashwein Moganan, Bhirau Wil-Aksono, Reza Adityas Trisnadi
Lower limb injuries are highly prevalent in fencing and may lead to long-term alterations in neuromuscular control, even after athletes return to training and competition. This study aimed to investigate differences in lower limb muscle activation during fencing lunge movements between athletes with and without a history of injury. A total of 24 fencing athletes from the Central Java regional training program (12 males and 12 females) participated in this observational cross-sectional study. Surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to measure the activation of the tibialis anterior, quadriceps (vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, rectus femoris), hamstrings (semitendinosus, biceps femoris), gastrocnemius medialis, gastrocnemius lateralis, and soleus. The results revealed that athletes without a history of injury consistently showed higher activation of the tibialis anterior, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, semitendinosus, and biceps femoris compared with injured athletes (p < 0.01). In contrast, the gastrocnemius medialis, gastrocnemius lateralis, and soleus exhibited significantly greater activation in athletes with a history of injury (p < 0.05), suggesting compensatory mechanisms to maintain ankle stability and propulsion. No significant differences were observed in rectus femoris activity between groups (p > 0.05). These findings indicate that previous lower limb injuries can result in persistent neuromuscular deficits, which may compromise performance and increase the risk of reinjury. Therefore, rehabilitation and training programs for fencers should emphasize neuromuscular reactivation, quadriceps–hamstring balance, and ankle stabilization to optimize performance and support safe return to sport. © 2025 by the authors.
Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Indonesia; Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Indonesia; Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Indonesia; Sport Coaching Education, Faculty of Sports Science, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Indonesia; Department of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Education, Universitas Muhammadiyah Purwokerto, Jawa Tengah, Indonesia; Department of Coaching Science, Sultan Idris Education University, Perak, Malaysia; Center for Longevity Research, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Negeri Makassar, Makassar, Indonesia; Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Islam Sultan Agung Semarang, Semarang, Indonesia
