Feasibility of Muscle Synergy Outcomes in Clinics, Robotics, and Sports: A Systematic Review

Table 10

Selected sport studies using muscle synergies.

Reference	Sport	Aim	Subjects	Tasks	Muscles (segment)	Outcomes
[68] Hug et al. 2010	Cycling	Examine muscle synergy variability	9 cyclists	Pedalling	10 (lower limb)	(i) Similar muscle synergy vectors; (ii) Similar activation profiles
[69] Hug et al. 2011	Cycling	Evaluate the effect of movement mechanics	11 cyclists	Pedalling	11 (lower limb)	(i) Training can be performed at low power output
[70] Turpin et al. 2011	Rowing	Verify the effects of power output	7 rowers; 8 untrained subjects	2000 m rowing	21 (full-body)	(i) Similar muscle synergies were found in the two walking conditions
[71] Turpin et al. 2011	Rowing	Evaluate the effect of expertise	7 rowers; 8 untrained subjects	2-min rowing	23 (full-body)	(i) Similar activation profiles between groups; (ii) Different muscle synergy vectors between groups
[72] Frère and Hug 2012	Artistic gymnastics	Examine muscle synergy variability	9 gymnasts	Backward giant swings	12 (full-body)	(i) Three synergies for all subjects; (ii) Difference in the third synergy
[73] Frère et al. 2012	Athletics	Evaluate the catapult effect on maximum height	7 vaulters	10 pole vaults	10 (upper limbs)	(i) Similar activation profiles; (ii) Different muscle synergy vectors; (iii) No influence on maximum height
[74] De Marchis et al. 2013	Cycling	Investigate the muscle coordination	9 untrained subjects	Pedalling	8 (lower limb)	(i) More synergies with respect to expertise; (ii) Variability of activation profiles; (iii) Similarity of muscle synergy vectors
[76] Cruz Ruiz et al. 2015	Football	Design controllers for avatar animation	1 footballer	Right-hand throws	16 (trunk and upper limb)	(i) Three synergies for all throws; (ii) Repeatable and robust synergies
[77] Kristiansen et al. 2015	Fitness	Evaluate the effect of expertise	10 lifters; 9 untrained subjects	Bench press	9 (full-body)	(i) Less variability in expert; (ii) Use composition of muscle synergies as performance index
[78] Kristiansen et al. 2016	Fitness	Assess change in motor control after a 5-week training	30 untrained subjects	Bench press	13 (full-body)	(i) No difference after training; (ii) Higher maximum load after training
[79] Smale et al. 2016	Fitness	Verify the effect of fatigue	9 healthy subjects	Two-leg squatting	12 (lower limb)	(i) Difference in muscle synergy composition after fatigue; (ii) Muscle synergy as index of fatigue
[80] Kristiansen et al. 2016	Fitness	Evaluate the between-day reliability	21 healthy subjects	Bench press	13 (full-body)	(i) Same muscle synergy organization across days
[81] Shaharudin and Agrawal 2016	Rowing	Evaluate the effect of incremental power output	10 rowers; 10 untrained subjects	Rowing	16 (full-body)	(i) Similar activation profiles between groups; (ii) Muscle coordination influence rowing economy
[82] Vaz et al. 2016	Swimming	Evaluate the effect of expertise	8 swimmers; 8 beginners	25 m breaststroke	8 (full-body)	(i) No different muscle synergy organization between groups; (ii) Different activation time in expert
[83] Chen et al. 2017	Fitness	Investigate the intra- and interlimb muscle coordination	20 healthy subjects	Crawling	32 (full-body)	(i) Two synergies for both limbs; (ii) Different muscle synergy vectors among speeds
[84] Kim et al. 2017	Ice hockey	Evaluate the response to balance perturbation	7 expert; 7 untrained subjects	Balance perturbation	16 (full-body)	(i) Specific synergy to control head movement in expert
[85] Nishida et al. 2017	Athletics	Evaluate the effect of strike patterns	10 healthy subjects	Running	12 (trunk and lower limbs)	(i) Different synergy vectors, timing, and duration of activation profiles
[86] Turpin et al. 2017	Cycling	Evaluate the effect of seating and standing position	17 untrained subjects	Pedalling	9 (lower limb)	(i) Four synergies for all subjects; (ii) Similar muscle synergy organization between positions
[87] Turpin et al. 2017	Cycling	Evaluate the effect of seating and standing position	17 untrained subjects	Pedalling	7 (trunk and upper limb)	(i) Three synergies for all subjects; (ii) Greater activation during standing position