Muscle Synergy of the Periarticularis Shoulder Muscles during a Wheelchair Propulsion Motion for Wheelchair Basketball

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This study investigated the muscle synergy patterns of wheelchair basketball players. This study has research implications for enhancing athletic performance to help athletes train. However, the study had some issues with the presentation of the introduction and the reproducibility of the methodology. Specific comments are shown below:

1. The summary section needs further clarification of the results and conclusions section, such as providing exact data results and enlightening conclusions.

2. The first and second paragraphs of the introduction could be considered in combination.

3. Please provide more information on specific applications of muscle synergy, which can more effectively illustrate its role in exploring movement patterns. The authors may consider citing the latest relevant research literature: Adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system model driven by the non-negative matrix factorization-extracted muscle synergy patterns to estimate lower limb joint movements (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmpb.2023.107848); Structural and Organizational Strategies of Locomotor Modules during Landing in Patients with Chronic Ankle Instability (https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering11050518)

4. In the author's hypothesis, please provide a more specific vision of the study. Furthermore, could you clarify in the Methods section whether the selection process included subjects with concomitant pain?

5. The determination of the sample size needs further clarification. Insufficient sample size directly contributes to the validity of the results.

6. The current study should provide a more detailed description of the computation of muscle activation and the determination of muscle synergy patterns. This includes the selection of recursive equations and the extraction of muscle synergies during muscle activation solving, both of which require detailed information to refine the reproducible new method. The authors may refer to the studies mentioned above.

7. Please provide more detailed results, including VAF, muscle synergy patterns, etc. for each subject. Because muscle synergistic differences between subjects are recognizable, putting synergistic patterns of all subjects in one piece will lead to heterogeneous errors.

8. In terms of the movement characteristics explained by each muscle synergy pattern, please provide more details of the results.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

Moderate editing of English language required.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Introduction

In the description of the percentage of injuries, it could be indicated which has been the joint or muscle damage produced, given that several sports are indicated and the severity of the injury may be different.

A wheelchair muscle activation study was also conducted. I am aware of the difficulty in finding more literature, although further support would be ideal.

Methos

In the sample, it should be indicated why they did not have to have experience carrying a chair; having it or not changes the muscle pattern a lot and it is necessary to justify this characteristic to the reader

The physical fitness levels of the subjects are indicated.

The previous 10m of practice should be adequately indicated, has it been your criteria, or have you followed the guidelines?

Discussion

A comparison of the speed achieved between this study and another study of international athletes was established. I do not believe that such a comparison should be made, since this study indicates that it was a sample with no wheelchair experience, and there are no data on synergy in that study, which is the reason for the study.

The discussion is very interesting in the synergy data presented; it lacks contrast or comparison with other similar data in Paralympic sports.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

All comments have been addressed.

Comments on the Quality of English Language

none