Cross-Sectional Physiological and Neuromuscular Profiling of Elite and Recreational University Badminton Athletes: Preliminary Benchmarks for Exercise-Based Injury Risk Stratification

Background and Purpose: Badminton imposes considerable cardiovascular and musculoskeletal stress. Physiological profiling can identify modifiable injury risk factors and inform exercise-based prevention and rehabilitation. This study compared cardiovascular recovery, neuromuscular activation, and limb strength between elite and recreational male university badminton players to derive preliminary physiological benchmarks for injury risk stratification and exercise rehabilitation guidance. Methods: Forty male athletes (20 elite: national/university representatives with [≥]5 years of competitive experience; 20 recreational: <3 years of experience) completed assessments of heart rate recovery (HRR), biceps brachii surface electromyography (sEMG; SENIAM protocol), handgrip strength (JAMAR dynamometry), and maximal bodyweight squat repetitions. Independent-sample t-tests with Cohens d ( = 0.05) and Pearson correlations were applied. Results: Elite players demonstrated significantly greater handgrip strength (49.00{+/-}6.12 vs. 39.00{+/-}5.45 kg, p = 0.001, d = 1.72) and lower-limb (LL) strength (60.35{+/-}11.29 vs. 41.75{+/-}6.72 repetitions, p < 0.001, d = 1.96). Normalized sEMG root mean square (RMS) was higher in elite athletes during flexion (11.56{+/-}4.16% vs. 7.26{+/-}5.15%, p = 0.004, d = 0.94) and extension (12.67{+/-}4.56% vs. 7.85{+/-}5.73%, p = 0.003, d = 0.94). HRR did not differ significantly between groups (p = 0.17, d = 0.43, observed power = 0.34). Elite players nonetheless showed a more favorable recovery distribution. sEMG -HRR correlations were weak and non-significant in both groups. Conclusions: Elite badminton players exhibit a distinct physiological profile of greater strength and more efficient neuromuscular activation. These preliminary cross-sectional findings may support the design of exercise-based injury-prevention and rehabilitation in university badminton.