Taekwondo training improves the neuromotor excitability and reaction of large and small muscles

Abstract

ObjectivesThis study measured the neuromotor excitability and reaction time in professional and amateur Taekwondo (TKD) practitioners and compared them with non-athletes. DesignA cross-sectional cohort study design. SettingExercise laboratory setting. Participants40 TKD practitioners (20 professionals, 20 amateurs) and 20 non-athletes. Main outcome measuresNeuromotor excitability (rheobase), premotor reaction time (PRT), total reaction time (TRT) and electromechanical delay (EMD) of rectus femoris (RF) and flexor pollicis brevis (FPB) in response to audio and visual stimuli were measured. The professional TKD practitioners have shorter TRT than non-athletes with sport-specific visual stimuli but they have longer PRT and TRT in response to audio stimuli than the amateur practitioners and non-athletes. ResultsThe professional practitioners have longer EMD than the amateurs in responding to audio (p = 0.032) and sports-specific visual stimuli (p = 0.03) in FPB. Professional practitioners have higher excitability in RF (p < 0.001) than the amateurs and non-athletes. ConclusionWe conclude that professional TKD practitioners have better neuromotor ability in both large and small muscles with faster reactions to sport-specific stimuli, suggesting a generalized training effect across muscles. They react slower to non-sport specific stimuli, which suggested a decreased sensitivity to irrelevant sensory inputs after intensive TKD training.