Recruitment of Serratus Anterior in Ventilation During Graded Cycling

Authors

Daniel T. Cannon, San Diego State University
Sara L. GroutFollow
Courtney A. May, USNFollow
Stephanie D. StromFollow
Kathryn G. WyckoffFollow
Daniel Cipriani, Chapman UniversityFollow
Michael J. Buono, Harvard UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2007

Abstract

The role of the serratus anterior (SA) as an accessory muscle of ventilation and its physiologic significance under exercising conditions remains unclear. Recent investigations have utilized the measurement of SA as an analog for respiratory muscle oxygenation. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the action of the serratus anterior via surface electromyography (EMG) and near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) during exercise while controlling for muscular effort not related to ventilation. Nine healthy volunteers (age = 24.4 +/- 0.5 years, VO2max = 3.416 +/- 0.35 l min(-1); VEpeak = 127.5 +/- 13.1 l min(-1); TVpeak = 2.844 +/- 0.226 l) completed a graded exercise test to volitional exhaustion on a cycle ergometer. The subjects' arms were folded and relaxed at the abdomen to minimize muscular effort resulting from scapular stabilization during pushing/forward flexion of the arms associated with cycle ergometry. VO2 and V were monitored breath-by-breath throughout exercise. EMG was recorded over the right SA, and a near infrared probe was placed over the left SA. No significant differences were observed throughout the graded exercise test for tissue oxygenation (StO2) (n = 6, F[1.532, 7.661] = 0.895, P > 0.05, eta2 = 0.15) or EMG (n = 9, F[1.594, 12.75] = 3.067, P > 0.05, eta2 = 0.27). Although the recruitment of the SA has been postulated to aid in ventilation in various postures and disease states, it is concluded that it shows little muscular effort in healthy subjects during upright cycling. Additional research is needed to conclude the pertinence of utilizing StO2 of the SA as an analog for respiratory muscle oxygenation. Recruitment of the Serratus Anterior as an Accessory Muscle of Ventilation during Graded Exercise - ResearchGate. Available from: http://www.researchgate.net/publication/6412499_Recruitment_of_the_Serratus_Anterior_as_an_Accessory_Muscle_of_Ventilation_during_Graded_Exercise [accessed Oct 6, 2015].

Comments

This article was originally published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, volume 39, issue 5, in 2007.

Recommended Citation

Cannon D, Grout S, May C, Strom S, Wyckoff K, Cipriani D, Buono M (2007). Recruitment of Serratus Anterior in ventilation during graded cycling. Med Sci Sports Exer, 39(5), s344.

Peer Reviewed

1

Copyright

Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins