Effect of vibration frequency on agonist and antagonist arm muscle activity

• Published in: European journal of applied physiology 2015-06, Vol.115 (6), p.1305-1312
• Main Authors: Rodríguez Jiménez, Sergio, Benítez, Adolfo, García González, Miguel A., Moras Feliu, Gerard, Maffiuletti, Nicola A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Anatomia i fisiologia humana; Arm - physiology; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Ciències de la salut; Coactivation; Electromiografia; Electromyography; EMG activity; Enginyeria electrònica; Fisiologia; Human Physiology; Humans; Load; Male; Medicina; Muscle Contraction; Muscle function; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Occupational Medicine/Industrial Medicine; Original Article; Physiology; Sports Medicine; Vibration; Vibration exercise; Vibratory bar; Àrees temàtiques de la UPC
• ISSN: 1439-6319; 1439-6327
• DOI: 10.1007/s00421-015-3108-x

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 (EMG RMS ) of the BB and TB muscles was expressed as a function of the maximal EMG RMS 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