scholarly journals Muscle activation varies between high-bar and low-bar back squat

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9256
Author(s):  
Michal Murawa ◽  
Anna Fryzowicz ◽  
Jaroslaw Kabacinski ◽  
Jakub Jurga ◽  
Joanna Gorwa ◽  
...  

Background Differences in the muscular activity between the high-bar back squat (HBBS) and the low-bar back squat (LBBS) on the same representative group of experienced powerlifters are still scarcely investigated. The main purpose of the study was to compare the normalized bioelectrical activity and maximal angles within single homogeneous group between the HBBS and LBBS for 60% one repetition maximum (1RM), 65% 1RM and 70% 1RM. Methods Twelve healthy men (age 24.3  ± 2.8 years, height 178.8  ± 5.6 cm, body mass 88.3  ± 11.5 kg), experienced in powerlifting performed HBBS and LBBS with comparable external loads equal 60% 1RM, 65% 1RM, and 70% 1RM. Electromyography (EMG) signals of muscle groups were synchronously recorded alongside kinematic data (joints angle) by means of a motion capture system. Results EMG activity during eccentric phase of squat motion were significantly higher during LBBS than in HBBS for all selected muscles (60% 1RM and 65% 1RM) (p < 0.05). All examined muscles were more activated during concentric phase of the squat cycle (p < 0.05). In the concentric phase, significant differences between the loads were generally not observed between just 5% 1RM change in load level for LBBS. Conclusions Our results confirmed significant differences in muscles activation between both squat techniques. Muscle activity during eccentric phase of squat motion were significantly higher during LBBS than HBBS. The differences are crucial for posterior muscle chain during eccentric phase of squat cycle.

2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zlatko Matjačić ◽  
Matjaž Zadravec ◽  
Jakob Oblak

Clinical rehabilitation of individuals with various neurological disorders requires a significant number of movement repetitions in order to improve coordination and restoration of appropriate muscle activation patterns. Arm reaching movement is frequently practiced via motorized arm cycling ergometers where the trajectory of movement is circular thus providing means for practicing a single and rather nonfunctional set of muscle activation patterns, which is a significant limitation. We have developed a novel mechanism that in the combination with an existing arm ergometer device enables nine different movement modalities/trajectories ranging from purely circular trajectory to four elliptical and four linear trajectories where the direction of movement may be varied. The main objective of this study was to test a hypothesis stating that different movement modalities facilitate differences in muscle activation patterns as a result of varying shape and direction of movement. Muscle activation patterns in all movement modalities were assessed in a group of neurologically intact individuals in the form of recording the electromyographic (EMG) activity of four selected muscle groups of the shoulder and the elbow. Statistical analysis of the root mean square (RMS) values of resulting EMG signals have shown that muscle activation patterns corresponding to each of the nine movement modalities significantly differ in order to accommodate to variation of the trajectories shape and direction. Further, we assessed muscle activation patterns following the same protocol in a selected clinical case of hemiparesis. These results have shown the ability of the selected case subject to produce different muscle activation patterns as a response to different movement modalities which show some resemblance to those assessed in the group of neurologically intact individuals. The results of the study indicate that the developed device may significantly extend the scope of strength and coordination training in stroke rehabilitation which is in current clinical rehabilitation practice done through arm cycling.


1983 ◽  
Vol 104 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOHN M. GOSLINE ◽  
JOHN D. STEEVES ◽  
ANTHONY D. HARMAN ◽  
M. EDWIN DEMONT

1. By simultaneously recording the electromyographic (EMG) activity of squid mantle muscles, changes in mantle cavity pressure and changes in mantle diameter, we have been able to distinguish the pattern of radial muscle activity from circular muscle activity, and in so doing were able to determine the functional role of these muscle groups in motor behaviours. 2. Three distinguishable phases of activity appear during escape jets: (i), hyper-inflation brought about by the contraction of the radial muscles; (ii), the jet powered by the contraction of circular muscles; and (iii), refilling powered largely by the elastic recoil of the mantle wall, but with a small contribution from the radial muscles. 3. Two distinctly different patterns of muscular activity were seen in respiratory movements. One pattern (pattern I) is powered by the radial muscles alone, while the other (pattern II) is powered by the circular muscles alone. In both modes of respiration, the muscles are apparently antagonized by tissue elasticity. 4. Thus, the storage of elastic energy in the connective tissue fibre-lattice of the mantle wall plays a very important role in both modes of squid movement.


2002 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 92-96
Author(s):  
Tiina Ritvanen ◽  
Reijo Koskelo ◽  
Osmo H„nninen

Abstract This study follows muscle activity in three different learning sessions (computer, language laboratory, and normal classroom) while students were studying foreign languages. Myoelectric activity was measured in 21 high school students (10 girls, 11 boys, age range 17-20 years) by surface electromyography (sEMG) from the upper trapezius and frontalis muscles during three 45-min sessions. Root mean square (RMS) average from both investigated muscles was calculated. The EMG activity was highest in both muscle groups in the computer-aided session and lowest in the language laboratory. The girls had higher EMG activity in both investigated muscle groups in all three learning situations. The measured blood pressure was highest at the beginning of the sessions, decreased within 10 min, but increased again toward the end of the sessions. Our results indicate that the use of a computer as a teaching-aid evokes more constant muscle activity than the traditional learning situations. Since muscle tension can have adverse health consequences, more research is needed to determine optimal classroom conditions, especially when technical aids are used in teaching.


2003 ◽  
Vol 94 (5) ◽  
pp. 1766-1772 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinger S. Gottschall ◽  
Rodger Kram

We reasoned that with an optimal aiding horizontal force, the reduction in metabolic rate would reflect the cost of generating propulsive forces during normal walking. Furthermore, the reductions in ankle extensor electromyographic (EMG) activity would indicate the propulsive muscle actions. We applied horizontal forces at the waist, ranging from 15% body weight aiding to 15% body weight impeding, while subjects walked at 1.25 m/s. With an aiding horizontal force of 10% body weight, 1) the net metabolic cost of walking decreased to a minimum of 53% of normal walking, 2) the mean EMG of the medial gastrocnemius (MG) during the propulsive phase decreased to 59% of the normal walking magnitude, and yet 3) the mean EMG of the soleus (Sol) did not decrease significantly. Our data indicate that generating horizontal propulsive forces constitutes nearly half of the metabolic cost of normal walking. Additionally, it appears that the MG plays an important role in forward propulsion, whereas the Sol does not.


Author(s):  
Bo Sheng ◽  
Lihua Tang ◽  
Shengquan Xie ◽  
Chao Deng ◽  
Yanxin Zhang

Robot-assisted bilateral training is being developed as a new rehabilitation approach for stroke patients. However, there is still a lack of understanding of muscle functions when performing robot-assisted synchronous movements. The aim of this work is to explore the muscle activation patterns and the voluntary effort of participants during different robot-assisted bilateral training protocols. To this end, 10 healthy participants were recruited to take part in a 60-minute experiment. The experiment included two different bilateral exercises, and each exercise contained four different training protocols. Trajectories of the robots, interaction force and surface electromyogram signals were recorded during training. The results show that the robots do affect the muscle activation patterns during different training protocols and exercises rather than the controller. Specifically, the activity of muscles is reduced in robot-assisted training but is increased in active force involved robot-assisted training when compared to robot-unassisted training. Meanwhile, the voluntary effort of participants can be presented by the adjusted trajectories via the controller. In addition, the results also suggest that the activations for the same muscle groups in the left and right arms are highly correlated with each other in both exercises. Furthermore, the training protocols and methods developed in this work could be further extended in future clinical trials to investigate therapeutic outcomes for patients as well as to better understand bilateral recovery processes.


2018 ◽  
Vol 119 (3) ◽  
pp. 1153-1165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Germana Cappellini ◽  
Francesca Sylos-Labini ◽  
Michael J. MacLellan ◽  
Annalisa Sacco ◽  
Daniela Morelli ◽  
...  

To investigate how early injuries to developing motor regions of the brain affect different forms of gait, we compared the spatiotemporal locomotor patterns during forward (FW) and backward (BW) walking in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Bilateral gait kinematics and EMG activity of 11 pairs of leg muscles were recorded in 14 children with CP (9 diplegic, 5 hemiplegic; 3.0–11.1 yr) and 14 typically developing (TD) children (3.3–11.8 yr). During BW, children with CP showed a significant increase of gait asymmetry in foot trajectory characteristics and limb intersegmental coordination. Furthermore, gait asymmetries, which were not evident during FW in diplegic children, became evident during BW. Factorization of the EMG signals revealed a comparable structure of the motor output during FW and BW in all groups of children, but we found differences in the basic temporal activation patterns. Overall, the results are consistent with the idea that both forms of gait share pattern generation control circuits providing similar (though reversed) kinematic patterns. However, BW requires different muscle activation timings associated with muscle modules, highlighting subtle gait asymmetries in diplegic children, and thus provides a more comprehensive assessment of gait pathology in children with CP. The findings suggest that spatiotemporal asymmetry assessments during BW might reflect an impaired state and/or descending control of the spinal locomotor circuitry and can be used for diagnostic purposes and as complementary markers of gait recovery.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Early injuries to developing motor regions of the brain affect both forward progression and other forms of gait. In particular, backward walking highlights prominent gait asymmetries in children with hemiplegia and diplegia from cerebral palsy and can give a more comprehensive assessment of gait pathology. The observed spatiotemporal asymmetry assessments may reflect both impaired supraspinal control and impaired state of the spinal circuitry.


2010 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 251-260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julien Louis ◽  
Christophe Hausswirth ◽  
François Bieuzen ◽  
Jeanick Brisswalter

The influence of vitamin and mineral complex supplementation on muscular activity and cycling efficiency was examined in elderly endurance-trained master athletes during a heavy cycling trial. Master athletes were randomly assigned in a double-blind process to 1 of 2 treatment groups: antioxidant supplementation (n = 8: As group) or placebo (n = 8: Pl group) for 21 days. After that time, each subject had to perform a 10-min session of cycling on a cycloergometer at a heavy constant intensity. Twenty-four to 48 h after this session, subjects performed an isometric maximal voluntary contraction before and immediately after a fatiguing strength training (leg press exercise) and the same 10-min cycling test after fatigue. Isometric maximal voluntary force (MVF) of knee extensors was assessed before and after fatigue. Electromyographic (EMG) activity of the vastus medialis, the vastus lateralis (VL), and the biceps femoris was recorded with surface EMG. The knee-extensors MVF after the fatiguing exercise was reduced in similar proportions for both groups (As, –10.9%; Pl, –11.3%, p < 0.05). This MVF loss was associated with a significant reduction in EMG frequency parameters for both groups, with a lower decrease for the As group. Muscular activity and cycling efficiency during the cycling bouts were affected by the treatment. Cycling efficiency decreased significantly and the oxygen uptake slow component was higher after the fatiguing exercise for both groups. Furthermore, a decrease in cycling efficiency was associated with an increase in VL activity. However, these changes were significantly lower for the As group. The results of the present study indicate an overall positive effect of vitamin and mineral complex supplementation on cycling efficiency after fatigue, in the endurance-trained elderly.


Dose-Response ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 155932581880436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle S Morel ◽  
Pedro J Marín ◽  
Eloá Moreira-Marconi ◽  
Carla F Dionello ◽  
Mario Bernardo-Filho

The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effects of whole-body vibration exercises (WBVE) in different positions on muscular activity of flexor digitorum superficialis (FD), wrist extensor (ED), and handgrip strength (HG) of healthy men. Fifteen participants have performed 5 test sets each one consisting of HG strength measurement and 1-minute WBVE intervention (frequency: 50 Hz, amplitude: 1.53 mm, synchronous tri-planar oscillating/vibratory platform), that could be control (no exposition to vibration), squat (30 seconds of rest and 30 seconds of WBVE in squat position), or push-up (30 seconds of rest, and 30 seconds of WBVE in push-up position). After testing, participants had 2 minutes of rest and then were encouraged to keep themselves on a pull-up bar for 30 seconds. During all procedures, muscular activity of FD and ED was measured by surface electromyography (EMG). Statistical analysis has revealed that the EMG measured in the FD during the static pull-up bar exercise after SQUAT condition was significantly higher ( P = .004) than the CONTROL and PUSH-UP conditions. Whole-body vibration exercises in squat position increase acutely muscle activation of the FD during isometric exercises of longer duration, while muscle activation of ED and HG strength are not affected by WBVE.


2014 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison C. McDonald ◽  
Elora C. Brenneman ◽  
Alan C. Cudlip ◽  
Clark R. Dickerson

As the modern workplace is dominated by submaximal repetitive tasks, knowledge of the effect of task location is important to ensure workers are unexposed to potentially injurious demands imposed by repetitive work in awkward or sustained postures. The purpose of this investigation was to develop a three-dimensional spatial map of the muscle activity for the right upper extremity during laterally directed submaximal force exertions. Electromyographic (EMG) activity was recorded from fourteen muscles surrounding the shoulder complex as the participants exerted 40N of force in two directions (leftward, rightward) at 70 defined locations. Hand position in both push directions strongly influenced total and certain individual muscle demands as identified by repeated measures analysis of variance (P< .001). During rightward exertions individual muscle activation varied from 1 to 21% MVE and during leftward exertions it varied from 1 to 27% MVE with hand location. Continuous prediction equations for muscular demands based on three-dimensional spatial parameters were created with explained variance ranging from 25 to 73%. The study provides novel information for evaluating existing and proactive workplace designs, and may help identify preferred geometric placements of lateral exertions in occupational settings to lower muscular demands, potentially mitigating fatigue and associated musculoskeletal risks.


2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 429-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hardeep Singh ◽  
Mark Lee ◽  
Matthew J. Solomito ◽  
Christian Merrill ◽  
Carl Nissen

Symptomatic spondylolysis/spondylolisthesis is thought to be caused by repetitive lumbar extension. About 8.9% of baseball pitchers that experience back pain will be diagnosed with spondylolysis. Therefore, this study aims to identify and quantify lumbar extension experienced during baseball pitching. It was hypothesized that young pitchers would exhibit less lumbar extension than older pitchers. A total of 187 healthy pitchers were divided into 3 age groups: youth, adolescent, and college. Kinematic data were collected at 250 Hz using a 3-D motion capture system. Lumbar motion was calculated as the difference between upper thoracic motion and pelvic motion over the pitching cycle. Lumbar “hyperextension” was defined as ≥20° past neutral. College pitchers had significantly greater lumbar extension compared with youth and adolescent pitchers at the point of maximum external rotation of the glenohumeral joint during the pitch cycle (−25° [13°], P = .04). For all age groups, lumbar hyperextension was present during the first 66% of the pitch cycle. Most pitchers spent 45% of pitch cycle in ≥30° of lumbar extension. Understanding that lumbar extension and hyperextension are components of the complex, multiplanar motions of the spine associated with baseball pitching can potentially help in both the prevention and management of symptomatic spondylolysis/spondylolisthesis.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document