Muscle coordination changes during intermittent cycling sprints

doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2005.01.048

Neuroscience Letters

Volume 380, Issue 3, 3 June 2005, Pages 265-269

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2005.01.048 Get rights and content

Abstract

Maximal muscle power is reported to decrease during explosive cyclical exercises owing to metabolic disturbances, muscle damage, and adjustments in the efferent neural command. The aim of the present study was to analyze the influence of inter-muscle coordination in fatigue occurrence during 10 intermittent 6-s cycling sprints, with 30-s recovery through electromyographic activity (EMG). Results showed a decrease in peak power output with sprint repetitions (sprint 1 versus sprint 10: −11%, P < 0.01) without any significant modifications in the integrated EMG. The timing between the knee extensor and the flexor EMG activation onsets was reduced in sprint 10 (sprint 1 versus sprint 10: −90.2 ms, P < 0.05), owing to an earlier antagonist activation with fatigue occurrence. In conclusion, the maximal power output, developed during intermittent cycling sprints of short duration, decreased possibly due to the inability of muscles to maintain maximal force. This reduction in maximal power output occurred in parallel to changes in the muscle coordination pattern after fatigue.

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Muscle coordination changes during intermittent cycling sprints

Abstract

J. Sci. Med. Sport

Electroencephalogr. Clin. Neurophysiol.

J. Electromyogr. Kinesiol.

J. Biomechanics

J. Biomechanics

Hum. Mov. Sci.

Hum. Mov. Sci.

Human muscle metabolism during intermittent maximal exercise

J. Appl. Physiol.

Influence of fatigue on EMG/force ratio and cocontraction in cycling

Med. Sci. Sports Exerc.