Análise eletromiográfica e cinemática de variações do exercício butterfly no pole sport: implicações para o código de pontos da International Pole Sports Federation

Abstract

Pole sport is the athletic branch of pole dance, with an emphasis on technical execution and international regulation based on the Code of Points of the International Pole Sports Federation (IPSF). Competitions in this discipline require, among several criteria, the performance of strength elements, which are assigned distinct technical values according to their degree of difficulty. The scarcity of technical-scientific studies on pole sport may lead to inconsistencies in scoring, directly impacting athletes' performance. This study aims to analyze, through surface electromyography (sEMG) and kinematics, four variations of the butterfly exercise classified as strength elements with different technical values according to the IPSF Code of Points (2021–2024): Butterfly Split Grip (S10), Butterfly Extension (S22), Butterfly Reverse Extension (S42), and Forearm Grip Butterfly (S52). The sample consisted of 15 pole dance practitioners with more than one year of experience. Electromyographic signals (EMG) were collected from the following muscles: biceps brachii (BB), triceps brachii (TB), rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), erector spinae (ES), rectus femoris (RF), and semitendinosus (ST). Kinematic variables, the Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE), and the Total Intensity (TI) of each exercise were also recorded and analyzed. The results revealed distinct patterns of muscle activity among the exercises, with higher levels of activation in the upper limbs. Kinematic analysis indicated variations in the base of support and the torque generated, which was influenced by the distance of anatomical points from the pole, potentially affecting stability and muscular demand in each butterfly variation. It is concluded that the exercises differ in terms of neuromuscular activation, kinematic demands, and RPE. This corroborates with the classification presented in the Code of Points, although further studies are recommended to compare the S42 and S52 elements.