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Effect of vibration frequency on agonist and antagonist arm muscle activity

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European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to assess the effect of vibration frequency (f out) on the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the biceps brachii (BB) and triceps brachii (TB) muscles when acting as agonist and antagonist during static exercises with different loads.

Methods

Fourteen healthy men were asked to hold a vibratory bar as steadily as possible for 10 s during lying row (pulling) and bench press (pushing) exercise at f out of 0 (non-vibration condition), 18, 31 and 42 Hz with loads of 20, 50, and 80 % of the maximum sustainable load (MSL). The root mean square of the EMG activity (EMGRMS) of the BB and TB muscles was expressed as a function of the maximal EMGRMS for respective muscles to characterize agonist activation and antagonist coactivation.

Results

We found that (1) agonist activation was greater during vibration (42 Hz) compared to non-vibration exercise for the TB but not for the BB muscle (p < 0.05); (2) antagonist activation was greater during vibration compared to non-vibration exercise for both BB (p < 0.01) and TB (p < 0.05) muscles; (3) the vibration-induced increase in antagonist coactivation was proportional to vibration f out in the range 18–42 Hz and (4) the vibration-induced increase in TB agonist activation and antagonist coactivation occurred at all loading conditions in the range 20–80 % MSL.

Conclusion

The use of high vibration frequencies within the range of 18–42 Hz can maximize TB agonist activation and antagonist activation of both BB and TB muscles during upper limb vibration exercise.

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Abbreviations

BB:

Biceps brachii

EMG:

Electromyography

f out :

Vibration frequency

MSL:

Maximum sustainable load

RMS:

Root mean square

TB:

Triceps brachii

WBV:

Whole body vibration

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the participants for their time and effort. The authors would also like to thank Raul Cabello for help in data collection during the study. This research was supported by the European Social Fund and the Commission for Universities and Research of the Catalan Government’s Department of Innovation, Universities and Enterprises.

Conflict of interest

None.

Ethical standards

The experiments comply with the current laws of the country in which they were performed.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sports Sciences Research Group, INEFC, Institut Nacional d’Educació Física de Catalunya, Centro de Barcelona, University of Barcelona, Avda. de l’Estadi s/n Anella Olímpica de Montjuïc, 08038, Barcelona, Spain

    Sergio Rodríguez Jiménez, Adolfo Benítez & Gerard Moras Feliu

  2. Group of Biomedical and Electronic Instrumentation, Department of Electronic Engineering, Technical University of Catalonia (UPC), Barcelona, Spain

    Adolfo Benítez & Miguel A. García González

  3. Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, Schulthess Clinic, Lengghalde 2, 8008, Zurich, Switzerland

    Nicola A. Maffiuletti

Authors
  1. Sergio Rodríguez Jiménez
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  2. Adolfo Benítez
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  3. Miguel A. García González
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  4. Gerard Moras Feliu
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  5. Nicola A. Maffiuletti
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sergio Rodríguez Jiménez.

Additional information

Communicated by Toshio Moritani.

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Rodríguez Jiménez, S., Benítez, A., García González, M.A. et al. Effect of vibration frequency on agonist and antagonist arm muscle activity. Eur J Appl Physiol 115, 1305–1312 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3108-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3108-x

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