Background: Muscle fatigue can change the muscle activation pattern during running and causes some disorders in running biomechanics. The aim of present study was to determine the effect of muscle fatigue on electromyographic activation pattern and co-contractions of lower extremity muscles during running.
Methods: Fourteen males (age: 23.76±2.14 years, weight: 78.45±2.54 kg, height: 179.82±2.32 cm) participated in quasi-experimental study. Surface electromyography activity from rectus femoris, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, medial gastrocnemius, soleus and tibialis anterior muscles were recorded during running before and after fatigue protocol on treadmill. Paired t-test was used to analyze the data (p<0.05).
Results: Muscle fatigue altered the muscle activation pattern of the lower extremity muscles as well as co-contractions levels in various phases of running.
Conclusion: Changes in muscle activation pattern and co-contractions during running can cause lack of control over contact joints and increase the risk of overuse injurie.

Keywords: Muscle fatigue, Surface electromyography, Co-contraction, Running

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