EMG activity of the iliopsoas muscle and leg kinetics during the soccer place kick

The purpose of the study was to develop a method to record intramuscular el ectromyogram (EMG) from the iliopsoas muscle and to relate this activity to the kinetics during the soccer place kick. Seven skilled soccer players pe rformed 3 maximal velocity place kicks. The kicks were filmed with a high-s peed camera (400 Hz) and EMG recordings were obtained from 5 muscles of the kicking leg, including wire electrodes inserted into the m. iliopsoas. The EMG signals were compared to the kinetics of the kicking leg, which were c alculated from the digitised film. The results showed hardly any torque rev ersal about the hip joint before impact. Angular deceleration of the thigh segment did not increase the angular velocity of the shank (work -3.57 to 0 .0%). M. iliopsoas was active during the entire kicking motion (average EMG 65.1-100.9%), even in the period when the thigh was decelerating. Wire ele ctrodes can succesfully be applied to EMG recordings of fast unloaded movem ents.