{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,31]],"date-time":"2026-08-31T06:15:55Z","timestamp":1788156955705,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":40,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,31]],"date-time":"2026-08-31T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1788134400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Objective<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study aimed to examine and compare muscle activation and co-activation across the backswing and forward swing phases of the para-badminton smash to improve understanding of phase-specific neuromuscular coordination that may inform future biomechanical and injury-related research.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Nine elite para-badminton players were recruited for the study (body mass: 79.0 \u00b1 7.9\u00a0kg; height: 172.1 \u00b1 5.2\u00a0cm). Surface electromyography (sEMG) signals were recorded using a wireless EMG system, and data were collected from eight muscles (flexor carpi ulnaris, extensor carpi ulnaris, biceps brachii, triceps brachii, infraspinatus, latissimus dorsi, rectus abdominis, and erector spinae longissimus).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      The results indicated that the wrist (flexor carpi ulnaris and extensor carpi ulnaris) and elbow (biceps and triceps) muscles showed significantly greater activation during the forward swing (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      &amp;lt; 0.01\u20130.001), with peak activity in the early-to-mid acceleration phase; however, only the wrist demonstrated a significant change in the co-activation index (CoI) (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      &amp;lt; 0.001), while elbow agonist\u2013antagonist balance remained stable. At the shoulder, the infraspinatus maintained consistent activation, whereas the latissimus dorsi was selectively recruited during the forward swing (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      &amp;lt; 0.01), resulting in an increased CoI (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      &amp;lt; 0.001). Similarly, trunk muscles exhibited phase-specific behavior, with stable erector spinae activity and significant rectus abdominis recruitment during the forward swing (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      &amp;lt; 0.001), leading to elevated trunk CoI. Overall, these findings indicate coordinated, segment-specific modulation of activation and co-activation to support force generation and stabilization during the acceleration phase.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Overall, the findings indicate that muscle co-activation is segment-specific and adapted to the mechanical demands of each joint within the kinetic chain. Imbalances such as excessive wrist co-activation or insufficient proximal stabilization may increase injury risk. Therefore, injury prevention in para-badminton should focus on optimizing wrist stability, maintaining elbow muscle balance, enhancing shoulder control, and improving trunk stability to support efficient force transfer and performance.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fbioe.2026.1853282","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,31]],"date-time":"2026-08-31T05:41:16Z","timestamp":1788154876000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Electromyographic analysis of muscle activation and co-activation across smash phases in para-badminton: an exploratory investigation of neuromuscular coordination"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Khaled","family":"Abuwarda","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical Education and Kinesiology, College of Education, Qassim University","place":["Qassim, Saudi Arabia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Abdulazeem","family":"Alotaibi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Physical Education and Kinesiology, College of Education, Qassim University","place":["Qassim, Saudi Arabia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Abdel-Rahman","family":"Akl","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Sports Science-Abo Qir, Alexandria University","place":["Alexandria, Egypt"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,31]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"9825","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph18189825","article-title":"Quantifying coordination between agonist and antagonist elbow muscles during Backhand crosscourt shots in adult female squash players","volume":"18","author":"Akl","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. 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