Abstract

Lower limb injuries are highly prevalent in fencing and may lead to long-term alterations in neuromuscular control, even after athletes return to training and competition. This study aimed to investigate differences in lower limb muscle activation during fencing lunge movements between athletes with and without a history of injury. A total of 24 fencing athletes from the Central Java regional training program (12 males and 12 females) participated in this observational cross-sectional study. Surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to measure the activation of the tibialis anterior, quadriceps (vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, rectus femoris), hamstrings (semitendinosus, biceps femoris), gastrocnemius medialis, gastrocnemius lateralis, and soleus. The results revealed that athletes without a history of injury consistently showed higher activation of the tibialis anterior, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, semitendinosus, and biceps femoris compared with injured athletes (p < 0.01). In contrast, the gastrocnemius medialis, gastrocnemius lateralis, and soleus exhibited significantly greater activation in athletes with a history of injury (p < 0.05), suggesting compensatory mechanisms to maintain ankle stability and propulsion. No significant differences were observed in rectus femoris activity between groups (p > 0.05). These findings indicate that previous lower limb injuries can result in persistent neuromuscular deficits, which may compromise performance and increase the risk of reinjury. Therefore, rehabilitation and training programs for fencers should emphasize neuromuscular reactivation, quadriceps–hamstring balance, and ankle stabilization to optimize performance and support safe return to sport.