Research article summary (published 30 May 1999):

Analysis of the aerobic-anaerobic transition in elite cyclists during incremental exercise with the use of electromyography.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the validity and reliability of surface electromyography (EMG) as a new non-invasive determinant of the metabolic response to incremental exercise in elite cyclists. The relation between EMG activity and other more conventional methods for analysing the aerobic-anaerobic transition such as blood lactate measurements (lactate threshold (LT) and onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA)) and ventilatory parameters (ventilatory thresholds 1 and 2 (VT1 and VT2)) was studied. METHODS: Twenty eight elite road cyclists (age 24 (4) years; VO2MAX 69.9 (6.4) ml/kg/min; values mean (SD)) were selected as subjects. Each of them performed a ramp protocol (starting at 0 W, with increases of 5 W every 12 seconds) on a cycle ergometer (validity study). In addition, 15 of them performed the same test twice (reliability study). During the tests, data on gas exchange and blood lactate levels were collected to determine VT1, VT2, LT, and OBLA. The root mean squares of EMG signals (rms-EMG) were recorded from both the vastus lateralis and the rectus femoris at each intensity using surface electrodes. RESULTS: A two threshold response was detected in the rms-EMG recordings from both muscles in 90% of subjects, with two breakpoints, EMGT1 and EMGT2, at around 60-70% and 80-90% of VO2MAX respectively. The results of the reliability study showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) between mean values of EMGT1 and EMGT2 obtained in both tests. Furthermore, no significant differences (p > 0.05) existed between mean values of EMGT1, in the vastus lateralis and rectus femoris, and VT1 and LT (62.8 (14.5) and 69.0 (6.2) and 64.6 (6.4) and 68.7 (8.2)% of VO2MAX respectively), or between mean values of EMGT2, in the vastus lateralis and rectus femoris, and VT2 and OBLA (86.9 (9.0) and 88.0 (6.2) and 84.6 (6.5) and 87.7 (6.4)% of VO2MAX respectively). CONCLUSION: rms-EMG may be a useful complementary non-invasive method for analysing the aerobic-anaerobic transition (ventilatory and lactate thresholds) in elite cyclists.

Author information

Author/s: Lucía, A (A); Sánchez, O (O); Carvajal, A (A); Chicharro, J L (JL);

Affiliation: Departamento de Ciencias Morfológicas y Fisiología, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Spain.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Clinical Trial; Comparative Study; Journal Article

Journal: British journal of sports medicine (Br J Sports Med), published in ENGLAND. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1999-Jun; vol 33 (issue 3) : pp 178-85

Dates: Created 1999/08/19; Completed 1999/08/19; Revised 2008/11/20;

PMID: 10378070, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adult Anaerobic Threshold - physiology Bicycling - physiology Electromyography Energy Metabolism - physiology Exercise Test

Exercise Tolerance - physiology Humans Male Muscle, Skeletal - metabolism; physiology Reproducibility of Results Sensitivity and Specificity

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