Activation of upper- and lower-limb muscles during hook punch using lead- and rear-arm

The hook punch is a fundamental technique in boxing, requiring coordinated activation of upper- and lower-limb muscles to generate maximal force and speed. While previous studies have analysed muscle activation in straight punches, research on hook punches remains limited. This study aimed to examine the peak activation (PA) and average rectified value (ARV) of seven upper- and lower-body muscles during four distinct hook punch techniques and compare activation patterns between Southpaw (SP) and Orthodox (OD) stance boxers. Twelve elite male boxers (SP: n = 8, OD: n = 4) participated in this study. Surface electromyography recorded PA and ARV of the biceps brachii (BB), triceps brachii (TB), anterior deltoid (AD), latissimus dorsi (LD), biceps femoris (BF), rectus femoris (RF), and medial gastrocnemius (MG) during four hook punch techniques: lead-arm hook to the head (LAHH), lead-arm hook to the body (LAHB), rear-arm hook to the head (RAHH), and rear-arm hook to the body (RAHB). The independent t-test and Wilcoxon test compared stance groups, while the paired t-test was used to determine intra-technique differences. No significant differences in PA or ARV were found between SP and OD, except for RF activation during LAHB (p = .038). Significant intra-technique differences were observed in LD, RF, and MG activation. In conclusion, no differences in muscle activation were observed between SP and OD stances, except for the rectus femoris during the LABH. Between punch techniques, variation in muscle activation was observed, implying differences in strategies used.