BACKGROUND:In recent years, the technical parameters about hurdle athletes are mainly obtained through video analysis and DLT algorithm. However, the gait and surface electromyography (sEMG) characteristics during normal walking are little reported. OBJECTIVE: To explore the changes of the gait and lower limb sEMG signals relative to gait period in hurdle athletes. METHODS:Eight male professional hurdlers were selected to perform gait and lower limb sEMG tests on the trail, and the differences in gait and sEMG signals were analyzed by mathematical statistics. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The gait parameters of hurdlers showed no significant differences (except step length). In the total gait cycle, along with the gait changing, the right and left side muscles of the same name moved alternately. The median frequency and average power frequency of the tapping leg in the lower limb muscles were greater than those of the swinging leg (except biceps femoris, tibialis anterior and lateral gastrocnemius), but the mean EMG and EMG integral values of the tapping leg were smaller than those of the swinging leg. At the stand phase, the median frequency and average power frequency of the tapping leg in the lower limb muscles were greater than those of the swinging leg (except tibialis anterior), but the mean EMG and EMG integral values of the tapping leg were smaller than those of the swinging leg (except soleus). At the swing phase, the median frequency and average power frequency of the tapping leg in the lower limb muscles were greater than those of the swinging leg (except tibialis anterior and lateral gastrocnemius), but the mean EMG and EMG integral values of the tapping leg were smaller than those of the swinging leg (except soleus). To conclude, there are different degrees of differences in the frequency domain and time domain of the lower limb muscles between tapping and swinging legs. Additionally, the muscle strength of the tapping leg is less than that of the swinging leg.