Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2007
Abstract
The origin of the slow component (SC) of oxygen uptake kinetics, presenting during exercise above the ventilatory threshold (VT), remains unclear. Possible physiologic mechanisms include a progressive recruitment of type II muscle fibers. The purpose of this study was to examine alterations in muscle activity through electromyography (EMG) and mean power frequency (MPF) analysis during heavy cycling exercise. Eight trained cyclists (mean±S.E.; age=30±3 years, height=177±4 cm, weight=73.8±6.5 kg, VO2max=4.33±0.28lmin−1) completed transitions from 20 W to a workload equaling 50% of the difference between VT and VO2max. VO2 was monitored using a breath-by-breath measurement system, and EMG data were gathered from surface electrodes placed on the gastrocnemius lateralis and vastus lateralis oblique. Breath-by-breath data were time aligned, averaged, interpolated to 1-s intervals, and modeled with non-linear regression. Mean power frequency (MPF) and RMS EMG values were calculated for each minute during the exercise bout. Additionally, MPF was determined using both isolated EMG bursts and complete pedal revolutions. All subjects exhibited a VO2 SC (mean amplitude=0.98±0.16lmin−1), yet no significant differences were observed during the exercise bout in MPF or RMS EMG data (p>0.05) using either analysis technique. While it is possible that the sensitivity of EMG may be insufficient to identify changes in muscle activity theorized to affect the VO2 SC, the data indicated no relationship between MPF/EMG and the SC during heavy cycling.
Recommended Citation
Cannon, D. T., Kolkhorst, F. W., & Cipriani, D. J. (2007). Electromyographic data do not support a progressive recruitment of muscle fibers during exercise exhibiting a VO2 slow component. Journal of physiological anthropology, 26(5), 541-546.
DOI: 10.2114/jpa2.26.541
Peer Reviewed
1
Copyright
Japan Society of Physiological Anthropology
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
This article was originally published in Journa of Physiological Anthropology, volume 26, issue 5, in 2007. DOI: 10.2114/jpa2.26.541