Faculty Advisor
Matt S. Stock, Ph.D.
Publication Date
5-2022
Abstract
The role of load in strength training is being debated in the literature, with studies reporting similar changes in skeletal muscle size following fatiguing low-load and high-load training. Electromyographic (EMG) signal recording can be utilized to compare muscle activity between fatiguing low-load and high-load training, but little is known about the behavior of the biceps brachii muscle during shortening (concentric) and lengthening (eccentric) muscle actions. We sought to compare changes in EMG amplitude throughout fatiguing low-load versus high-load resistance training during both concentric and eccentric muscle actions.
METHODS: Nine men and eight women, all resistance trained, participated in this study. Following a familiarization visit, participants performed three sets of barbell biceps curls to exhaustion using 30% and 80% of their predetermined one repetition maximum (1RM) on two separate days. During the sets, surface EMG signals were recorded from the biceps brachii.
RESULTS: EMG amplitude was found to be significantly greater at 80%1RM than 30%1RM at all timepoints. There was no time x load interaction seen. Significant increase in EMG amplitude is noted from beginning to middle repetition, but not from middle to end repetition, across all conditions.
CONCLUSION: While repeated contractions to fatigue at 30%1RM increase EMG activity, it does not reach similar levels to 80%1RM at any time point.
Recommended Citation
Wydra, Jeremy S.; Gilbert, Jacob C.; and Mann, Allison P., "EMG Amplitude During Fatiguing Low-Load Versus High-Load Biceps Curls" (2022). UCF DPT Research Capstone. 29.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/dpt-capstone/29
Access Status
Open Access