Journal
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY
Volume 105, Issue 1, Pages 81-92Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s00421-008-0877-5
Keywords
Mechanomyogram; EMG; Isometric contractions
Categories
Funding
- Centro di Ricerca Alta Valtellina (CRAV) Movimento e Benessere, University of Milan, Italy
- University of Milan [5059-281]
- University of Brescia (Italy)
Ask authors/readers for more resources
To determine the differences between rock-climbers and controls in finger flexor (FF) motor units (MUs) features and activation strategy, eleven climbers and ten controls volunteered for the study. After maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) assessment, five levels of isometric contractions at 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% MVC were performed. During contractions, electromyogram (EMG) and mechanomyogram (MMG) were recorded, from which the root mean square (RMS) and mean frequency (MF) were calculated. Climbers showed significantly higher MVC. EMG RMS was statistically higher in climbers than in controls from 60 to 100% MVC. In climbers MMG RMS increased up to 80% MVC, whereas in controls it increased only up to 60% MVC. MMG MF was higher in climbers than in controls from 60 to 100% MVC (P < 0.05). EMG-MMG combined analysis revealed significant differences in MU activation strategy between the two groups. The results are compatible with a shift of climbers' muscles toward faster MUs.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available