Participants were 15 athletic males (age: 19.7 ± 1.2 years, height: 1.78 ± 0.1 m, weight: 72.5 ± 11.3 kg).
The textile electrodes were embedded into compression tights (Fig. 1A) to measure muscle activities of Rectus Femoris (RF). The conductive electrodes were woven by silver fibres and each of the electrodes was of 3 cm * 1 cm in size (Fig. 1B). The wires to connect electrodes and hardware were well-fixed in between two layers of the apparel fabric to avoid interference and artefact. sEMG data acquisitioned (sampling frequency: 1000 Hz) were transmitted from the hardware through Wi-Fi to a computer.
The traditional laboratory-based sEMG measurement device with Ag/AgCl electrodes used for comparison was Noraxon Desktop DTS (Noraxon U.S.A., Inc., Scottsdale, U.S.A), with the sampling
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Isometric contraction tests were conducted on a knee extension equipment (HUR Oy, Kokkola, Finland). All the tests were performed in a seated position where the knee angle was fixed at 120°, and there was a force transducer attached to the lever arm at ankle. The force data were displayed real-time on a computer screen so the participants had feedbacks on their force exertion. Each participant performed maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) tests 3 times. Whereafter, 25% MVC tests were performed 5 times in each participant. A one-minute break was guaranteed between each trial to avoid muscle fatigue. The tests were executed twice: the ones measured by textile electrodes, and the ones with traditional Ag/AgCl electrodes, which were placed exactly at the same area as the textile electrodes.
The sEMG data were filtered (10 Hz Highpass), rectified, smoothed (Mean, 100ms), and synchronised with force data. Furthermore, all sEMG data were normalised to individual MVC values respectively, in order to make comparisons. A Bland-Altman Plot was made to show the agreement between textile and Ag/AgCl
Using electrodes on the bicep to record the motor unit recruitment during all four conditions: control, stretching, cardio, and aerobic stretching. As shown in figure 5, the control group and the stretching are similar in the amount of EMG amplitude (mV). However, when comparing stretching with both cardio and aerobic stretching there is an increase as the intensity of the warm-up. Moreover, aerobic stretching has the highest EMG amplitude, which shows that there is motor unit cycling. Motor cycling provides a more efficient performance on the bicep because more of the muscle is being used (Widmaier, et al.,
Oxygen debt in the muscles is reached when oxygen levels are much lower than required during strenuous physical activity, causing lactate fermentation to occur in the cells leading to muscle fatigue. The results found in the experiment were the number of squeezes in the first trial for the dominant and non-dominant hands were significantly higher than the remaining ones. The results also showed as the trials continued, the number of muscle contractions decreased steadily which supported the hypothesis. However, there were some increased numbers for the dominant hand from trial 4 to 5 and trial 9 to 10. The non-dominant hand expressed similar unexpected results from trial 6 to 7 and trial 9 and 10. The reasons for these results might be due to the finger muscles being worked at the high intensity for a long period of time causing the muscles to consume higher amounts of oxygen thus producing more ATP production. This would cause the muscles to create more contractions towards the end of the trials. The unexpected results could also be caused by experimental errors such as faulty clothespins. The springs connecting the two ends of the clothespin was tight causing the number of contractions as the trials progressed having a more significant decrease. This is because the amount of energy required to open and close the clothespin would be higher, causing the lactate threshold to occur quicker. Due to this, the number of squeezes would decrease drastically as the trials progressed, in contrast to if the springs were normal. This would change the results by the difference between the trials not being evident therefore, not demonstrating the effects of muscle fatigue. Another factor that altered this experiment was the participant’s condition, Palmar Hyperhidrosis –excessive sweating on the palms – which
Thirteen healthy undergraduate students at the University of Brighton (8 males, 5 females; mean ± SD, age: 19.2 ± 1.5 years; body mass: 67.4 ± 16.1 kg; height: 177 ± 28.2m) were briefed with the study procedure. Their anthropometric data was collected, along with a medical questionnaire and their consent to participate in the study. All of the participants were familiar with the laboratory testing procedures.
The lab chart was then stopped once the 5s contraction period had ended. Then the maximum force in Neutons (N) for that trial was calculated by the chart. The 5s MVC procedure was then repeated two more times and the MVC for each trial was calculated by the chart software and the highest MVC contraction and MVC for each trial was then identified and all the values were out into table 1.5. Then each participant 90% MVC was calculated by taking the 100% MVC and multiplying it by 0.9 which was then put into the second table, and the guideline of the participants 90% max was then put into the lab chart. The participant then prepared to hold their 90% MVC for 1 minute. With their knee already extended as far as they could without contracting with no slack in the line or chain the lab chart was started and the participant was instructed to kick out to achieve maximal force and tried to hold it for 1 minute to the best of their abilities and then relax when the minute has
Isokinetic contraction can be defined as a muscular contraction where the limb remains in a constant velocity around a joint. It can be used to assess force output (torque) with isolated joint movements, which is the most common measurement obtained. A way isokinetic measurements can be collected is through the utilization of an isokinetic dynamometer. Isokinetic dynamometers are measurement tools that physical therapists can use for testing purposes as well as training to improve muscular performance in dynamic conditions. The velocities can be adjusted to reproduce demands of various activities to enhance training effects (Baltzopoulos & Brodie, 1989). Results can be utilized as an objective strength measure throughout an individual’s rehabilitation
(2014). A Consideration of the Paradigm of Exercise Physiology. Research In Sports Medicine, 22(3), 314-322.
There were few significant differences in knee extensor and knee flexor muscle activity during walking with robotic assistance. Significant differences in muscle activity across condition only occurred in muscles targeted for intervention (knee extensor, VL), with an increase in muscle activity during the EXO condition, a positive result for an extensor muscle. Although some undesirable increases in MH flexor muscle activity were seen in the linear envelopes, they did not present significant changes the statistical analysis on the group level. Muscle activity did not change significantly across visits with the exoskeleton.
Plyometric exercise protocol was the exercise used to induce muscle damage. The participants did ten sets of ten plyometric drop jumps. Following the plyometric exercise protocol, the participants drew sealed envelopes that gave them their group assignment. The participants’ EIMD were then observed and documented at 1, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours after exercising by looking at four assessments: jump performance, isokinetic muscle strength, perceived muscle soreness, and blood markers. The researches studied the participants’ jump performance by measuring their squat and countermovement jump height with a vaned jump and reach apparatus. Isokinetic dynamometry was used to determine isokinetic muscle strength. The participants were sitting upright with their experimental leg secured to avoid any other movements besides what’s being tested. The dynamometer measured the concentric contractions at 60° and 180° s-1 through 90° range of movement. Perceived muscle soreness was measured by having the participants squat at 90° and then report their soreness on a scale of 0-10, with 0 meaning no pain and 10 meaning the worst pain ever. Blood was also tested to assess EIMD. A 6-ml venous blood sample from the antecubital vein was taken and then centrifuged for ten minutes to get a sample of the blood
EMG machines measure the contractions in forms of waves and then display them on a screen. The size and shape of the waves measured the electromyogram is the determining factor in a patient’s overall diagnosis. In some cases, an audio amplifier may be attached to the equipment as well; this may cause loud crackling noises during muscle
In this experiment, we investigated the mechanical properties of skeletal muscle contraction in the in situ whole gastrocnemius muscle isolated from the back of the lower leg of a frog. This experiment was conducted by using an experimental apparatus consisting of an iWorx 214 data acquisition unit with an internal electronic stimulator and a specially designed muscle apparatus. We carried out this experiment in three parts, in which we studied the effect of stimulus amplitude on the force of muscle contraction, multiple twitches, summation and tetanus effects displayed by the muscle and the effect of muscle stretch on the force of contraction. In the first part, we measured muscle twitch response by the force produced by muscle contraction
A total of 13 participated in the research study (7 males, 6 females). The average age of males in the study was 23.14 ± 0.90 and the average age of females were 25.17 ± 3.25. The average height for males were 70.36 ± 3.04 inches and for females 66 ± 2.10 inches. The mean weight and body fat for males were 194.53 ± 17.49 lbs. and 18.03 ± 4.99 %, respectively. For female’s body weight was 155.83 ± 27.74 lbs. and 25.32 ± 5.45 body fat percentage. After conducting a Pearson Correlation, Table 2 describes the results using P-value and alpha significance. A moderate correlation was found in the combined scores between ankle dorsiflexion and broad jump (r = 0.45; P-value = 0.12). Another moderate correlation was recorded when compared between ankle dorsiflexion and vertical jump in a combined group (r = 0.42; P-value = 0.15). Males showed a higher correlation between ankle dorsiflexion and vertical jump (r = 0.42; P-value = 0.35), while females showed a lower correlation (r = 0.37; P-value = 0.47). Additionally, there was a higher correlation in males between ankle dorsiflexion and broad jump (r = 0.41; P-value = 0.36), as opposed to females (r = 0.39; P-value =
There is literature to support the use of isometric exercise in pain conditions; sustained isometric fatiguing muscle contraction recruits segmental and/or extrasegmental descending inhibition mechanisms. The recruitment of descending inhibition results in mechanical hypoalgesia and increased pressure pain threshold in healthy humans.” (Cook and Purdam, 2014). The authors suggested that loads can be repeated several times a day, utilising 40–60 s holds, 4–5 times, to reduce pain and maintain some muscle capacity and tendon load.
Evetovich, Nauman, Conley & Todd (2003) performed a study on the effects of static stretching on torque, EMG, and MMG during concentric isokinetic muscle actions in the biceps brachii. This study was composed for 18 men and 8 women age 22.7(+/- 2.8 years). Subjects were randomly assigned to stretching/non-stretching protocols before strength testing. This experiment yielded greater torque in the non-stretching subject’s vs stretching subjects. It also showed greater MMG amplitude for the stretching group and no change in EMG amplitude. These results suggest that peak torque is decreased with stretching prior to exercise, which in turn would hinder performance.
The primary focus of this lab is to familiarize students with the procedure and practice of taking measurements, doing calculations, and constructing interpretations. These are foundational skills that will be applicable and essential to any study performed. This lab requires and utilizes height, weight, gender, age, and skinfold measurements to determine BMI, body composition, and estimated VO2max. The Rockport-walking test, an alternative field test that directly establishes a subject’s maximal energy consumption, is required to determine the aerobic limitations/abilities of the male subject M.N. and the female subject M.B. (Kline et al.1987). These calculations will be used to formulate interpretation regarding the relationship
All participants arrived at this building at their individual day and test time. Prior to participation the participant had to sign an Informed Consent. This gave the principal investigator permission to use their information gathered during this study. Upon arrival they entered the building and were taken to the Exercise Science lab. Here their height and weight were measured and recorded on the data sheet by the principal investigator.