Abstract

Background: In this study, therefore, we directed our attention to motion images of badminton and evaluated the effects of the presence or absence of actual hitting of the shuttle on F waves from the short abductor muscle of the thumb to collect information about the excitability of spinal motor neurons.
Methods: The subjects were 10 male and female college students with no experience in playing badminton. F waves were recorded under 3 different conditions: 1) having the subject raise their arm without holding the racket and take a posture ready to return the flying shuttle by imagining the motion (non-racket posture; NRP), 2) having the subject hold the racket and take a posture ready to return the flying shuttle by imagining the movement (racket posture; RP), and 3) having the subject actually keep rallies for 2 minutes and, then take a posture to return the flying shuttle by imagining the movement (stroke posture; SP).
Results: The amplitude of F waves relative to the maximum M wave was significantly larger in RP and SP than in NRP. The minimum latency of the F waves was significantly shorter in SP than in NRP.
Conclusion: The results suggest that the excitability of spinal motor neurons is suppressed by holding the racket and that the conduction velocity of excitation in muscle fibers is increased by actually performing strokes.