Mechanomyography and oxygen consumption during incremental cycle ergometry

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to describe and compare the relationships for mechanomyography (MMG) and oxygen consumption rate (V˙O₂) versus power output during incremental cycle ergometry. Twenty four adult males [mean (SD) age, 22.1 (2.0) years] volunteered to perform an incremental test to exhaustion on a cycle ergometer. A MMG piezoelectric recording device was placed mid-thigh over the vastus lateralis muscle and V˙O₂ was measured using standard open circuit procedures. The r ² values for the MMG and V˙O₂ versus power output relationships ranged from 0.79 to 0.99 and 0.97 to 0.99, respectively. In 20 of the 24 subjects there was no significant (P > 0.10) difference between the slope values for the normalized MMG and V˙O₂ (expressed as a percentage of maximal values) versus power output relationships. The results of this study indicate that MMG procedures can be used to quantify muscular activity and monitor changes in exercise intensity during cycle ergometry. Furthermore, the present findings demonstrated a close association between the mechanical (MMG) and metabolic (V˙O₂) aspects of muscular contraction during incremental cycle ergometry.