Enhancing the weight training experience: a comparison of limb kinematics and EMG activity on three machines

This study compared the activation of the clavicular, sternocostal and abdominal heads of the pectoralis major (PM) and the long portion of the triceps brachii during the execution of the bench press with several inclinations, grip types, and grip widths. Thirteen healthy men with more than a year of resistance training experience participated in this study. The subjects performed 6 repetitions of various variations of the bench press at angles of -15°, 0° and 30° with grip width of 100% and 200% of their biacromial width in both pronation and supination with a load equivalent of their respective 12RM for each movement. EMG, bar acceleration and shoulder angle were recorded during each repetition. Activation of the clavicular head of the PM was, compared to a wide pronation at 0°, significantly higher at a close pronation at 0°and 30°; during a close supination at 30° and during a wide supination at 30°. Activation of the sternocostal head of the PM was, during a wide pronation at 0°, significantly higher than during a close supination at 0°, 30° and -15°; during a wide supination at 30; during a wide supination at 0° and 30° and at close pronation at 30° and -15°. Activation of the abdominal head of the PM was significantly better with wide pronation at -15° and 0° compared to all positions at 30°. Triceps brachii were better solicited during close pronation at 0° and -15° compared to supinated grip at 0° and 30°. Results from this study show that the bench press exercise performed with a wide pronation grip at 0° can maximize the activation of the three heads of the PM.

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The Effect of 12 variations of the bench press exercise on the EMG activity of three heads of the pectoralis major

IUSCA Journal ◽

10.47206/iuscaj.v1i1.39 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Xavier Roy ◽

Keven Arseneault ◽

Pierre Sercia

Keyword(s):

Resistance Training ◽

Bench Press ◽

Pectoralis Major ◽

Emg Activity ◽

Triceps Brachii ◽

Training Experience ◽

Healthy Men ◽

Shoulder Angle

This study compared the activation of the clavicular, sternocostal and abdominal heads of the pectoralis major (PM) and the long portion of the triceps brachii during the execution of the bench press with several inclinations, grip types, and grip widths. Thirteen healthy men with more than a year of resistance training experience participated in this study. The subjects performed 6 repetitions of various variations of the bench press at angles of -15°, 0° and 30° with grip width of 100% and 200% of their biacromial width in both pronation and supination with a load equivalent of their respective 12RM for each movement. EMG, bar acceleration and shoulder angle were recorded during each repetition. Activation of the clavicular head of the PM was, compared to a wide pronation at 0°, significantly higher at a close pronation at 0°and 30°; during a close supination at 30° and during a wide supination at 30°. Activation of the sternocostal head of the PM was, during a wide pronation at 0°, significantly higher than during a close supination at 0°, 30° and -15°; during a wide supination at 30; during a wide supination at 0° and 30° and at close pronation at 30° and -15°. Activation of the abdominal head of the PM was significantly better with wide pronation at -15° and 0° compared to all positions at 30°. Triceps brachii were better solicited during close pronation at 0° and -15° compared to supinated grip at 0° and 30°. Results from this study show that the bench press exercise performed with a wide pronation grip at 0° can maximize the activation of the three heads of the PM.

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The Use of Session RPE to Monitor the Intensity of Weight Training in Older Women: Acute Responses to Eccentric, Concentric, and Dynamic Exercises

Journal of Aging Research ◽

10.1155/2014/749317 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Sandro S. Ferreira ◽

Kleverton Krinski ◽

Ragami C. Alves ◽

Mariana L. Benites ◽

Paulo E. Redkva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Analysis Of Variance ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Perceived Exertion ◽

Weight Training ◽

Training Session ◽

Rating Of Perceived Exertion ◽

Training Experience ◽

Repeated Measures Analysis ◽

Acute Responses ◽

Muscle Actions

The rating of perceived exertion (RPE) is ability to detect and interpret organic sensations while performing exercises. This method has been used to measure the level of effort that is felt during weight-training at a given intensity. The purpose of this investigation was to compare session RPE values with those of traditional RPE measurements for different weight-training muscle actions, performed together or separately. Fourteen women with no former weight-training experience were recruited for the investigation. All participants completed five sessions of exercise: familiarization, maximum force, concentric-only (CONC-only), eccentric-only (ECC-only), and dynamic (DYN = CONC + ECC). The traditional RPE method was measured after each series of exercises, and the session RPE was measured 30 min after the end of the training session. The statistical analyses used were the pairedt-test, one-way analysis of variance, and repeated measures analysis of variance. Significant differences between traditional RPE and session RPE for DYN, CONC, and ECC exercises were not found. This investigation demonstrated that session RPE is similar to traditional RPE in terms of weight-training involving concentric, eccentric, or dynamic muscle exercises, and that it can be used to prescribe and monitor weight-training sessions in older subjects.

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Energy Expenditure during Acute Weight Training Exercises in Healthy Participants: A Preliminary Study

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11156687 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (15) ◽

pp. 6687

Author(s):

Muhammad Adeel ◽

Chien-Hung Lai ◽

Chun-Wei Wu ◽

Jiunn-Horng Kang ◽

Jian-Chiun Liou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Energy Expenditure ◽

Energy Cost ◽

Perceived Exertion ◽

Weight Training ◽

Trained Group ◽

Training Experience ◽

Rate Of Perceived Exertion ◽

Training Exercises

Energy expenditure during weight training exercises produces great fitness and health benefits for humans, but few studies have investigated energy expenditure directly during weight training. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to determine energy costs during three training sessions consisting of three different exercises. Ten participants were randomly allocated into two groups: an untrained (n = 5, with no weight training experience) and a trained group (n = 5, with some weight training experience). Each participant completed three training sessions on separate days. While wearing a mask for indirect calorimetric measurements, each participant participated in training sessions conducted with three dumbbell exercises: the bent-over row, deadlift, and lunge. Metabolic equivalents (METs), energy expenditure (EE), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured. The total energy cost was calculated from the oxygen consumption (VO2) during each exercise. Our results showed that the METs of a single training session were 3.3 for the untrained group and 3.4 for the trained group, while the sum of the EE was 683–688 and 779–840 kcal, respectively. The physiological parameters, such as heart rate (p = 0.001 *) for the lunge and rate of perceived exertion (p = 0.005 *) for the bent-over row, changed significantly in both groups. It was concluded that the exercise protocol of this study involved a moderate intensity of 2.4–3.9 METs. The energy cost of each training exercise was between 179 and 291 kcal.

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Acute Hormonal Responses to Heavy Resistance Exercise in Strength Athletes Versus Nonathletes

Canadian Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1139/h04-034 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 29 (5) ◽

pp. 527-543 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

Juha P. Ahtiainen ◽

Arto Pakarinen ◽

William J. Kraemer ◽

Keijo Hakkinen

Keyword(s):

Resistance Exercise ◽

Blood Lactate ◽

Isometric Force ◽

Serum Testosterone ◽

Free Testosterone ◽

Emg Activity ◽

Training Experience ◽

Physically Active ◽

Before And After ◽

Heavy Resistance Exercise

The aim of the present study was to investigate acute hormonal and neuromuscular responses and recovery in strength athletes versus nonathletes during heavy resistance exercise performed with the forced and maximum repetitions training protocol. Eight male strength athletes (SA) with several years of continuous resistance training experience and 8 physically active but non-strength athletes (NA) volunteered as subjects. The experimental design comprised two loading sessions: maximum repetitions (MR) and forced repetitions (FR). MR included 12-RM squats for 4 sets with a 2-min recovery between sets. In FR the initial load was higher than in MR so that the subject could lift approximately 8 repetitions by himself and 4 additional repetitions with assistance. Before and after the loading protocols, blood samples were drawn to determine serum testosterone, free testosterone, cortisol and growth hormone concentrations, and blood lactate. Maximal voluntary isometric force and EMG activity of the leg extensors was measured before and after the loading as well as 24 and 48 hrs after the loading. The concentrations of the hormones measured increased significantly (p < .01-.001) after both loadings in both groups. The responses tended to be higher in FR than the MR loading and the increases of testosterone concentrations were significantly (p < .01) greater in both loadings in SA than in NA. Both loading protocols in both groups also led to neuromuscular fatigue observable with significant acute decreases in isometric strength by 32-52 % (p < .001) and in maximal iEMG (p < .05-01) associated with large increases in blood lactate. These data suggest that, at least in experienced strength athletes, the forced-repetition protocol is a viable alternative to the more traditional maximum-repetition protocol and may even be a superior approach. Key words: forced repetitions, recovery, EMG, isometric force

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Changes in Muscle Activity Imbalance of the Lower Limbs Following 3 Weeks of Supplementary Body-Weight Unilateral Training

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11041494 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 1494

Author(s):

Sylwia Mrzygłód ◽

Przemysław Pietraszewski ◽

Artur Golas ◽

Jakub Jarosz ◽

Aleksander Matusiński ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Training Program ◽

Muscle Activity ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

High Speed ◽

Weight Training ◽

Lower Limbs ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Training Experience ◽

Post Intervention

This study examined the effects of a short-term supplementary body-weight training program on changes in the muscle activity imbalance of the lower limbs during high-speed running in soccer players. Fifteen professional male soccer players took part in the study (age: 25 ± 5 years, body mass: 79.2 ± 10.8 kg, stature: 177 ± 10 cm, training experience: 12 ± 5 years). The evaluations of lower limb muscle activity imbalance via surface electromyography (sEMG) were performed twice (pre- and post-intervention), at a three-week interval. The sEMG was measured bilaterally from the area of quadriceps (Q), hamstrings (H), and gluteal muscles (G) during high-speed running at 18 km/h using sEMG shorts. Between measurements, the athletes performed the supplementary body-weight program of the lower limbs 4 times a week for 3 weeks. The training included six body-weight exercises performed unilaterally. The load progression included an additional set of each exercise in successive weeks of the experiment. The two-way repeated-measures ANOVA indicated a statistically significant main interaction for time × muscle (p = 0.006; F = 6.948; η2 = 0.332). The post-hoc analysis for the interaction effect of time × muscle showed a statistically significant decrease in muscle imbalance for the post-intervention compared to the pre-intervention for the H (p < 0.001; ES = 1.32), G (p = 0.002; ES = 0.92), and T (p < 0.001; ES = 1.54), but not for Q (p = 0.56; ES = 0.14). Moreover, there was a statistically significant greater imbalance between the H, G, and T muscles versus Q (p = 0.043, ES = 1.15; p = 0.006, ES = 1.57; p = 0.001, ES = 1.69, respectively) for the values recorded pre-intervention. Changes in muscle activity after 3 weeks of sports-specific movement patterns were statistically significant. For the gluteal (G) and hamstring (H), the imbalance between the limbs decreased significantly (p = 0.01). The imbalance in the quadriceps muscles (Q), with respect to each limb, did not decrease significantly (p = 0.82) following the training intervention. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that in-season soccer training supplemented with a body-weight training program successfully decreases gluteal and hamstring imbalance between limbs after 3 weeks of training.

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Can Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Improve Muscle Power in Individuals With Advanced Weight-Training Experience?

The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research ◽

10.1519/jsc.0000000000001956 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 34 (1) ◽

pp. 97-103 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Eduardo Lattari ◽

Carlos Campos ◽

Murilo Khede Lamego ◽

Sandro Legey ◽

Geraldo Maranhão Neto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Direct Current ◽

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽

Muscle Power ◽

Weight Training ◽

Training Experience ◽

Direct Current Stimulation

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The Existence of a Sticking Region in Free Weight Squats

Journal of Human Kinetics ◽

10.2478/hukin-2014-0061 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 42 (1) ◽

pp. 63-71 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Roland van den Tillaar ◽

Vidar Andersen ◽

Atle Hole Saeterbakken

Keyword(s):

Resistance Training ◽

Body Mass ◽

Muscle Activity ◽

Bench Press ◽

Body Height ◽

Rectus Femoris ◽

Biceps Femoris ◽

Emg Activity ◽

Training Experience ◽

Free Weight

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the existence of the sticking region in two legged free weight squats. Fifteen resistance-training males (age 24 ± 4 years, body mass 82 ± 11 kg, body height 179 ± 6 cm) with 6 ± 3 years of resistance-training experience performed 6-RM in free weight squats. The last repetition was analyzed for the existence of a sticking region. Only in 10 out of 15 participants a sticking region was observed. The observed sticking region was much shorter than in the bench press. Furthermore, rectus femoris decreased the EMG activity in contrast to increased EMG activity in biceps femoris around the sticking and surrounding region. No significant change in EMG activity was found for the lateral and medial vastus muscles. It is suggested that a combination of these muscle activity changes could be one of the causes of the existence of the sticking region in free weight squats

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Timing-Specific Transfer of Adapted Muscle Activity After Walking in an Elastic Force Field

Journal of Neurophysiology ◽

10.1152/jn.91096.2008 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 102 (1) ◽

pp. 568-577 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

Andreanne Blanchette ◽

Laurent J. Bouyer

Keyword(s):

Force Field ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Neural Control ◽

Gait Cycle ◽

Human Locomotion ◽

Emg Activity ◽

Field Exposure ◽

Limb Kinematics ◽

Increased Activity ◽

Lower Limb Kinematics

Human locomotion results from interactions between feedforward (central commands from voluntary and automatic drive) and feedback (peripheral commands from sensory inputs) mechanisms. Recent studies have shown that locomotion can be adapted when an external force is applied to the lower limb. To better understand the neural control of this adaptation, the present study investigated gait modifications resulting from exposure to a position-dependent force field. Ten subjects walked on a treadmill before, during, and after exposure to a force field generated by elastic tubing that pulled the foot forward and up during swing. Lower limb kinematics and electromyographic (EMG) activity were recorded during each walking period. During force field exposure, peak foot velocity was initially increased by 38%. As subjects adapted, peak foot velocity gradually returned to baseline in ≤125 strides. In the adapted state, hamstring EMG activity started earlier (16% before toe off) and remained elevated throughout swing. After force field exposure, foot velocity was initially reduced by 22% and returned to baseline in 9–51 strides. Aftereffects in hamstring EMGs consisted of increased activity around toe off. Contrary to the adapted state, this increase was not maintained during the rest of swing. Together, these results suggest that while the neural control of human locomotion can adapt to force field exposure, the mechanisms underlying this adaptation may vary according to the timing in the gait cycle. Adapted hamstring EMG activity may rely more on feedforward mechanisms around toe off and more on feedback mechanisms during the rest of swing.

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