The effect of strength training performed on arm wrestling athletes on electromyography values and muscle performance

Aim: The aim of this study is to analyze the data obtained with the electromyography device before and after the strength training applied to the arm wrestling athletes and to investigate quantitatively whether there is an increase in muscle performance. Material and Method: The study universe consisted of active Arm Wrestling athletes in Gaziantep province. The sample size for the study was determined as 14 male Arm Wrestling athletes based on power analysis. EMG measurements were taken for the BB muscle and PM muscle in two different positions with angles of 60 and 90 degree before and after the 8-week strength training. For the PT muscle, EMG measurements were taken at an angle of 90 degree . The distinctive features RMS, MAV, PSD, WL, ZC, and WAMP were used to classify the EMG signals. The significance level for the study was set as p<0.05. IBM SPSS 22.0 program was used for data analysis. Result: Statistically significant differences were found between the pre-test and post-test measurements for the BB muscle in both 60 and 90 degree positions, except for the PSD values. RMS, MAV, ZCR, WL, and WAMP values showed significant differences (p<0.05). For the PM muscle, a statistically significant difference was found in the WAMP values between the pre-test and post-test measurements in both 60 and 90 degree positions (p<0.05), but there was no significant difference in RMS, MAV, PSD, ZCR, and WL values. For the PT muscle, there were no statistically significant differences in RMS, MAV, PSD, ZCR, WL, and WAMP values between the pre-test and post-test measurements. Conclusion: The results suggest that strength training plays an effective role in increasing EMG activation and strengthening the active muscles involved in arm wrestling.