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Torres, GAuthorArmada-Cortes, EAuthorRueda, JAuthorSan Juan, AfAuthorNavarro, ECorresponding AuthorComparison of Hamstrings and Quadriceps Muscle Activation in Male and Female Professional Soccer Players
Publicated to:Applied Sciences-Basel. 11 (2): 738-13 - 2021-01-01 11(2), DOI: 10.3390/app11020738
Authors: Torres, Gonzalo; Armada-Cortes, Estrella; Rueda, Javier; San Juan, Alejandro F; Navarro, Enrique
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Abstract
Featured Application Surface electromyography is a valid and useful tool to assess quadriceps and hamstring muscle activation in professional male and female soccer teams. This methodology can be used in hamstring and knee injury prevention and rehabilitation programs. (1) Background: this study aimed to determine if there are differences in quadriceps and hamstring muscle activation in professional male and female soccer players. (2) Methods: muscle activation was recorded by surface electromyography in 27 professional soccer players (19 male and 8 female). The players performed the Bulgarian squat and lunge exercises. Vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, semitendinosus, and biceps femoris were the muscles analyzed. (3) Results: The statistical analysis of the hamstring:quadriceps ratio showed no significant differences (p > 0.05). Significant differences were found in the vastus medialis:vastus lateralis ratio for both the lunge exercise (t(20) = 3.35; p = 0.001; d = 1.42) and the Bulgarian squat (t(23) = 4.15; p < 0.001; d = 1.76). For the intragroup muscular pattern in the lunge and Bulgarian squat exercises, the female players showed higher activation for the vastus lateralis muscle (p < 0.001) than the male players and lower muscle activation in the vastus medialis. No significant differences were found in the rectus femoris, biceps remoris, and semitendinosus muscles (p > 0.05). (4) Conclusions: Differences were found in the medial ratio (vastus medialis: vastus lateralis). Moreover, regarding the intramuscular pattern, very consistent patterns have been found. In the quadriceps muscle: VM>VL>RF; in the hamstring muscle: ST>BF. These patterns could be very useful in the recovery process from an injury to return players to their highest performance.
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Quality index
Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel
The work has been published in the journal Applied Sciences-Basel due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2021, it was in position 39/92, thus managing to position itself as a Q2 (Segundo Cuartil), in the category Engineering, Multidisciplinary. Notably, the journal is positioned en el Cuartil Q2 para la agencia Scopus (SJR) en la categoría Engineering (Miscellaneous).
From a relative perspective, and based on the normalized impact indicator calculated from the Field Citation Ratio (FCR) of the Dimensions source, it yields a value of: 2.83, which indicates that, compared to works in the same discipline and in the same year of publication, it ranks as a work cited above average. (source consulted: Dimensions Jul 2025)
Specifically, and according to different indexing agencies, this work has accumulated citations as of 2025-07-17, the following number of citations:
- WoS: 4
- Scopus: 4
Impact and social visibility
Leadership analysis of institutional authors
There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (TORRES MARQUEZ, GONZALO) and Last Author (NAVARRO CABELLO, ENRIQUE).
the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been NAVARRO CABELLO, ENRIQUE.