Abstract
[Purpose] This study aimed to clarify the characteristics of motor neuron excitability by examining the soleus H-reflex in the ready position adopted immediately before making a return during badminton games. [Subjects] Sixteen individuals with (badminton group) and 16 without (control group) experience of playing badminton were studied. [Methods] Each subject was instructed to take up various stances for returning a shuttlecock to measure the H- and M-waves in the soleus. [Results] The H-wave was significantly decreased when gripping a racket was held in the dominant hand than compared to just standing in the badminton group. In contrast, in the control group, no significant differences were observed between when standing and the other stances. [Conclusion] Based on these results, the excitability of spinal motor neurons may have been reduced (H-wave suppression) by badminton training to increase the instantaneous force (power training).