Alterations in the Neuromuscular Control Mechanism of the Legs During a Post-Fatigue Landing Make the Lower Limbs More Susceptible to Injury

Abstract

Fatigue causes the lower limb to land in an injury-prone state, but the underlying neuromuscular control changes remain unclear. This study aims to investigate lower limb muscle synergies during landing in basketball players, both before and after fatigue, to examine alterations in neuromuscular control strategies induced by fatigue. Eighteen male recreational basketball players performed landing tasks pre- and post-fatigue induced by 10 × 10 countermovement jumps. Electromyographic (EMG) data from eight muscles, including the erector spinae (ES), rectus abdominus (RA), gluteus maximus (GM), rectus femoris (RF), biceps femoris (BF), lateral gastrocnemius (LG), soleus (SM), and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles, were analyzed using non-negative matrix factorization to extract muscle synergies. Post-fatigue results revealed significant changes: synergy primitive 1 decreased before landing (18–30% phase) and synergy primitive 2 decreased after landing (60–100% phase). Muscle weights of the LG and SM in synergy module 2 increased. Fatigue reduced synergistic muscle activation levels, compromising joint stability and increasing knee joint loading due to greater reliance on calf muscles. These changes heighten the risk of lower limb injuries. To mitigate fatigue-induced injury risks, athletes should improve thigh muscle endurance and enhance neuromuscular control, fostering better synergy between thigh and calf muscles during fatigued conditions.