Although the coordination and control of fencing lunge were investigated in many Egyptian reports, numerous of fundamental questions concerning response organisation and accuracy still unanswered. Therefore, this study was undertaken. The effects of choice on response timing, the differentiation of levels of skill, the effects of different lengths of lunge and the nature of neuromuscular coordination of elite and novice female Egyptian fencers were the main concern of this study. Methods: Three recent female Egyptian champions formed the elite group. They were ranged in age between 20 to 24 years with at least 5 years of high level of active training and competition. The three novice subjects were in their second year of active training and competition at the Muslim Youth Club team in Tanta (Egypt). They ranged in age between 17 to 21 years. Statistical procedures included ANOVA (program DMPD 4F), chi-square and Pearson product-moment correlation were used. The accuracy of elite and novice subjects was examined in three levels of target choice (single, two, and four targets) with three variations of movements distance (short, medium and long lunge). In addition, electromyographic activity (EMG) of selected upper and lower limb muscles was used to compare the two groups. Results: The elite subjects reported higher level of accuracy; also they were faster for reaction time and total response time. The hypothesis that increasing choice would cause increases in reaction time was not upheld, except for some differentiation between the short and the two longer distances. The effects of distance movement were not marked. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of EMG revealed the high consistency of response patterns within subjects and highlighted the synergistic roles of selected muscles in distinguishing between elite and novice fencers. Discussion: The findings of this study confirm that differences in the technical skill of fencers can be distinguished in the laboratory through a combination of response timing measures in association with measures of muscle action. They also draw attention to practical implication for individual skill assessment and training. Analysis of pre-movement muscle activity provided moderate support for the hypothesis that it was part of a single control process and indicates that a dual process can involve both the maintenance of postural stability and the generation of movement. It is also suggested that different movement contexts can lead to different levels of coordination between the system controlling posture and that controlling movement.
© Copyright 2012 17th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Bruges, 4. -7. July 2012. Veröffentlicht von Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Alle Rechte vorbehalten. / Übersetzt mit https://www.DeepL.com/Translator