Abstract
The present research was aimed at investigating the peculiarities of surface electromyogram (sEMG) signals in 12 weightlifting athletes (WLA) and 9 control subjects (control group, CG) The sEMG signals were recorded from both vastus lateralis muscles during 20 s isometric contractions made at 30% and 60% of the maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). Ground reaction force (vertical component) was recorded using a force plate. The sEMG was analysed in the frequency domain and the median frequency (MDF) was computed over successive 1 s epochs. A non-linear technique, recurrence quantification analysis was also applied to assess the presence and time course of deterministic structures in sEMG. The percentage of determinism (%DET) was used as a synthetic parameter to quantify the amount of regularly repeating sEMG waves within the signal itself (bursts). In 5 WLA the sEMG displayed a clear burst activity centred at 11 Hz. These bursts were correlated with force output oscillations and were evident both at 30% and 60%MVC. The MDF decay with time was more evident in WLA than in CG subjects. The %DET increased in WLA, this increase being more evident during 60%MVC contractions. Our results seemed to suggest a special disposition among WLA for the development of long-term changes in firing probability during sub-maximal isometric exercise. The MDF and %DET data provided indications of a greater involvement of fast twitch muscle fibres in WLA than in CG.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Electronic Publication
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Felici, F., Rosponi, A., Sbriccoli, P. et al. Linear and non-linear analysis of surface electromyograms in weightlifters. Eur J Appl Physiol 84, 337–342 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004210000364
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004210000364