The effects of a high-intensity free-weight back-squat exercise protocol on postural stability in resistance-trained males.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a high-intensity free-weight back-squat exercise on postural stability characteristics in resistance-trained males. Eighteen college-aged (mean ± SD: age = 22.9 ± 2.9 years; height = 175.8 ± 6.4 cm; mass = 86.3 ± 9.3 kg), resistance-trained males performed postural stability testing before and after completing five sets of eight repetitions of back-squat exercises at 80% of one-repetition maximum. A commercial balance testing device was used to assess sway index at pre- and at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 min post-exercise. Each balance assessment consisted of four, 20-s static stance conditions: eyes-open firm surface, eyes-closed firm surface, eyes-open soft surface and eyes-closed soft surface. Sway index was greater (P = 0.001-0.020) at Post 0 than at all other time points. No differences (P > 0.05) were observed between any other time phases. Sway index was greater (P < 0.001) for eyes-closed soft surface than all other conditions. These findings revealed sway index for all conditions significantly increased following completion of the back-squat; however, sway index recovered within 5 min of exercise. Higher sway index values as a result of neuromuscular fatigue induced by a back-squat exercise may have performance and injury risk consequences to subsequent activities that rely on postural stability. However, these findings suggest balance impairments may recover in ~5 min following high-intensity lower body resistance exercise.

Acute effects of static stretching on peak torque and the hamstrings-to-quadriceps conventional and functional ratios.

Recent evidence has shown acute static stretching may decrease hamstring-to-quadriceps (H:Q) ratios. However, the effects of static stretching on the functional H:Q ratio, which uses eccentric hamstrings muscle actions, have not been investigated. This study examined the acute effects of hamstrings and quadriceps static stretching on leg extensor and flexor concentric peak torque (PT), leg flexor eccentric PT, and the conventional and functional H:Q ratios. Twenty-two women (mean ± SD age=20.6 ± 1.9 years; body mass=64.6 ± 9.1 kg; height=164.5 ± 6.4 cm) performed three maximal voluntary unilateral isokinetic leg extension, flexion, and eccentric hamstring muscle actions at the angular velocities of 60 and 180°/s before and after a bout of hamstrings, quadriceps, and combined hamstrings and quadriceps static stretching, and a control condition. Two-way repeated measures ANOVAs (time × condition) were used to analyze the leg extension, flexion, and eccentric PT as well as the conventional and functional H:Q ratios. Results indicated that when collapsed across velocity, hamstrings-only stretching decreased the conventional ratios (P<0.05). Quadriceps-only and hamstrings and quadriceps stretching decreased the functional ratios (P<0.05). These findings suggested that stretching may adversely affect the conventional and functional H:Q ratios.

Linearity and reliability of the mechanomyographic amplitude versus dynamic constant external resistance relationships for the biceps brachii.

The purpose of this study was to examine the linearity and reliability of the mechanomyographic (MMG) amplitude versus concentric and eccentric dynamic constant external resistance (DCER) relationships for the biceps brachii. Nineteen healthy men (mean ± SD age = 22.9 ± 2.5 years) performed submaximal to maximal unilateral DCER muscle actions of the dominant forearm flexors on two occasions separated by at least 48 h. During each muscle action, the surface MMG signal was detected from the biceps brachii with an accelerometer. The coefficients of determination ranged from 0.01 to 0.90 for the concentric muscle actions and 0.14 to 0.88 for the eccentric muscle actions, thus demonstrating a wide range of linearity. The intra-class correlation coefficients and standard errors of measurement for the linear MMG amplitude versus DCER slope coefficients were 0.361 (48.0%) for the concentric muscle actions and 0.512 (35.5%) for the eccentric muscle actions, indicating poor reliability. These findings demonstrated that the MMG amplitude versus concentric and eccentric DCER relationships were not consistently linear or reliable.

Cross-talk among monopolar surface electromyographic signals from the superficial quadriceps femoris muscles.

This study used a within-subjects design. The purpose of this study was to examine cross-talk among monopolar surface electromyographic (EMG) signals from the superficial quadriceps femoris muscles. The "efficiency of electrical activity" technique for assessing muscle function uses monopolar EMG. Thus, knowledge of the potential for cross-talk among the superficial quadriceps femoris muscles when using monopolar recording will be valuable in rehabilitative settings. Fourteen healthy men (mean +/- SD age = 22.0 +/- 3.9 years) volunteered to perform submaximal to maximal isometric muscle actions of the dominant leg extensors in 10% increments from 10% to 100% of the maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). During each muscle action, monopolar surface EMG signals were detected from the superficial quadriceps femoris muscles. Three separate cross-correlations were performed to examine cross-talk among the vastus lateralis and rectus femoris, vastus medialis and rectus femoris, and vastus lateralis and vastus medialis. The peak cross-correlation coefficients ranged from R(x,y) = 0.182-0.944, with the greatest cross-talk occurring between the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis. In addition, the cross-correlation coefficients generally increased with force. These findings showed moderate to large degrees of crosstalk among monopolar surface EMG signals from the superficial quadriceps femoris muscles. Thus, the monopolar EMG signals from these muscles should be interpreted carefully and with the understanding that at least a portion of the signal from each muscle is due to cross-talk.

Linearity and reliability of the EMG amplitude versus dynamic torque relationships for the superficial quadriceps femoris muscles.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the linearity and reliability of the electromyographic (EMG) amplitude versus dynamic torque relationships for the vastus lateralis (VL), rectus femoris (RF), and vastus medialis (VM). METHODS: Nine healthy men (mean +/- SD age = 25.3 +/- 4.7 years) and eleven healthy women (mean +/- SD age = 22.0 +/- 1.3 years) performed a series of randomly ordered, submaximal to maximal, concentric isokinetic muscle actions of the leg extensors at 30 degrees x s(1) on two occasions separated by at least 48 hours. During each muscle action, surface EMG signals were detected from the VL, RF and VM of the dominant thigh with bipolar surface electrode arrangements. RESULTS: The coefficients of determination for the EMG amplitude versus dynamic torque relationships ranged from r2 = 0.75-0.98 and 0.64-0.99 for the VL, r2 = 0.79-0.99 and 0.60-0.98 for the RFE and r2 = 0.44-0.98 and 0.51-0.98 for the VM for trials 1 and2, respectively. In some cases, the linear EMG amplitude versus torque slope coefficient for trial 1 was significantly different from that for trial 2 for the VL and RF, but not for the VM. The intraclass correlation coefficients for the linear EMG amplitude versus torque coefficients were 0.730 (VL), 0.709 (RF), and 0.888 (VM). CONCLUSION: These results indicated that the EMG amplitude versus dynamic torque relationships for the superficial quadriceps femoris muscles did not demonstrate enough linearity and reliability to be used for examining the contributions of neural versus hypertrophic factors to training-induced strength gains.

Effects of static stretching on the hamstrings-to-quadriceps ratio and electromyographic amplitude in men.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of posterior thigh and leg stretching on leg flexion peak torque (PT), leg extension PT, the hamstrings-to-quadriceps (H:Q) ratio, and electromyographic (EMG) amplitude of the hamstrings and quadriceps in recreationally-active men. METHODS: Fifteen men (mean age + or - SD = 22.0 + or - 4.4 years; body mass = 82.7 + or - 16.1 kg; height = 173.1 + or - 6.8 cm) performed three maximal voluntary concentric isokinetic leg extension and flexion muscle actions at three randomly ordered angular velocities (60, 180, and 300 degrees x s(-1)) before and after hamstring and calf static stretching. The stretching protocol consisted of 1 unassisted and 3 assisted static stretching exercises designed to stretch the posterior muscles of the thigh and leg. Four repetitions of each stretch were held for 30 s with 20-s rest between repetitions. RESULTS: These findings indicated no significant (P>0.05) stretching-induced changes in leg flexion PT, leg extension PT, or EMG amplitude at 60, 180, or 300 degrees .s-1. However, the non-significant (P>0.05) 2-4% increases in leg extension PT combined with the non-significant (P>0.05) 1-2% decreases in leg flexion PT resulted in the significant (P < or = 0.05) 2-9% decreases in the H:Q ratio from pre- to post-stretching for all three velocities. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested that static stretching of the hamstrings and calf muscles may decrease the H:Q ratio. These results may be useful for athletic trainers, physical therapists, and other allied health professionals who may use the H:Q ratio as a clinical assessment.

Effects of stretching on peak torque and the H:Q ratio.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the acute effects of hamstring and calf stretching on leg extension and flexion peak torque (PT) and the hamstrings-to-quadriceps (H : Q) ratio during maximal, concentric isokinetic muscle actions at 60, 180, and 300 degrees . s (-1) in women. Thirteen women (mean age +/- SD = 20.8 +/- 1.8 yrs; height = 163.0 +/- 5.7 cm; mass = 64.0 +/- 8.3 kg) performed 3 maximal concentric isokinetic leg extension and flexion muscle actions at 3 randomly ordered angular velocities (60, 180, and 300 degrees . s (-1)) before and after a bout of static stretching. The stretching protocol consisted of 1 unassisted and 3 assisted static stretching exercises designed to stretch the posterior muscles of the thigh and leg. Four repetitions of each stretch were held for 30 s with 20 s rest between repetitions. The results indicated that leg flexion PT decreased from pre- to post-stretching (34.9 +/- 3.5 and 32.4 +/- 3.2 Nm, respectively) collapsed across velocity. However, no other changes were observed from pre- to post-stretching for leg extension PT (78.5 +/- 5.9 and 77.8 +/- 5.5 Nm, respectively) and the H : Q ratio (0.47 +/- 0.04 and 0.44 +/- 0.03, respectively). Our findings suggested that despite the stretching-induced decreases in leg flexion PT, leg extension PT and the H : Q ratios were unaltered by the stretching.