A preliminary study on how fatigue affects scoring average in professional darts

Walsh, Michael; Tyndyk, Magdalena; Barton, John; O'Flynn, Brendan; Ó Mathúna, S. Cian

A preliminary study on how fatigue affects scoring average in professional darts

Files

MW_PreliminaryPV2011.pdf(396.45 KB)

Published Version

Date

2011-07

Authors

Walsh, Michael

Tyndyk, Magdalena

Barton, John

O'Flynn, Brendan

Ó Mathúna, S. Cian

Publisher

International Society of Biomechanics in Sports

Abstract

The purpose of this preliminary study is to identify signs of fatigue in specific muscle groups that in turn directly influence accuracy in professional darts. Electromyography (EMG) sensors are employed to monitor the electrical activity produced by skeletal muscles of the trunk and upper limb during throw. It is noted that the Flexor Pollicis Brevis muscle which controls the critical release action during throw shows signs of fatigue. This is accompanied by an inherent increase in mean integral EMG amplitude for a number of other throw related muscles indicating an attempt to maintain constant applied throwing force. A strong correlation is shown to exist between average score and decrease in mean integral ECG amplitude for the Flexor Pollicis Brevis.

Keywords

Professional darts , Flexor Pollicis Brevis , Muscle fatigue

Citation

WALSH, M., TYNDYK, M., BARTON, J., O'FLYNN, B. & Ó MATHÚNA, S. C. A preliminary study on how fatigue affects scoring average in professional darts. In: VILAS-BOAS, J. P., MACHADO, L., KIM, W., VELOSO, A. P., ALVES, F., FERNANDES, R. J. & CONCEICAO, F., eds. Annual Symposium of the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports (ISBS2011), 27 Jun - 1 Jul 2011 Porto, Portugal. International Society of Biomechanics in Sports, 779-782.