Rate of change in emg rms as predictor of endurance time in female athletes

Injuries in aquatic sports are often associated with prolonged fatigue due to repetitive motions. These injuries are often more common in females due to an increased endurance. We calculated rate of change in muscle activation in expert aquatic athletes and controls throughout a fatiguing task. Slope coefficients for 9 muscles were analysed to find predictors of endurance times for each group. Controls demonstrated a kinetic adaptation and an increase in main agonist activation in order to maintain performance. In contrast, swimmers maintained performance by compensating for a reduction in scapular stability. No predictors were found for the water polo group, likely due to the unpredictability of their sport.