Neuromuscular Activation and Biomechanical Improvements Through sEMG Biofeedback in Medium-Paced Cricket Bowlers: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: Cricket bowling performance, particularly for medium-pace bowlers, requires precise neuromuscular control and coordinated biomechanical sequencing to achieve optimal delivery velocity and accuracy. Surface electromyographic biofeedback (sEMG-BFB) provides real-time, objective information about muscle activation patterns, enabling athletes to consciously modify neuromuscular recruitment strategies during skill execution. This randomized controlled trial examined whether a 6-week sEMG-BFB training program enhances muscle activation patterns, biomechanical efficiency, and bowling performance in medium-pace cricket bowlers compared with standard training. Methods: Forty male medium-pace cricket bowlers (age 18–25 years, M = 22.1, SD = 2.1) were randomly allocated to experimental (sEMG-BFB training, n = 20) or control (standard training, n = 20) groups using computer-generated randomization. The experimental group received progressive, bowling-specific sEMG biofeedback targeting the trapezius, latissimus dorsi, anterior deltoid, and pectoralis major muscles over six weeks (4 sessions/week, 60 minutes each). Outcome measures included muscle activation patterns (sEMG expressed as percentage of maximum voluntary contraction [%MVC], shoulder rotation velocity (°/s), bowling speed (km/h), and bowling accuracy (0–100 scale), assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Outcome assessors were blinded to group allocation. Results: The experimental group demonstrated substantially greater improvements than the control group across all measured parameters. Muscle activation improvements in the experimental group were: trapezius, 23.0% (p