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Changes in muscle activity with increasing running speed.

Heikki Kyröläinen1, Janne Avela, Paavo V Komi

  • 1Neuromuscular Research Centre, Department of Biology of Physical Activity, University of Jyväskylä, Finland. keikki@sport.jyu.fi

Journal of Sports Sciences
|October 1, 2005
PubMed
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Elite runners show higher muscle activation during sprints than maximal voluntary contractions. This suggests that pre-contact muscle activity enhances stretch reflexes, improving running performance.

Area of Science:

  • Biomechanics
  • Exercise Physiology
  • Human Movement Science

Background:

  • Understanding muscle activation patterns during running is crucial for optimizing performance.
  • Maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) are often used to assess muscle activation potential.
  • Elite middle-distance runners represent a population with highly developed running mechanics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the electromyographic (EMG) activity of leg muscles in elite runners at varying speeds.
  • To compare EMG activity during running with maximal voluntary contractions (MVC).
  • To explore the relationship between pre-contact muscle activity, stretch reflexes, and running performance.

Main Methods:

  • Recorded electromyographic (EMG) activity from gluteus maximus, vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, gastrocnemius, and tibialis anterior in 17 elite male middle-distance runners.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Measured ground reaction forces during isometric maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) and running at different speeds.
  • Analyzed averaged EMG (aEMG) activity in relation to running speed and contraction phases.

    • Main Results:

    • Averaged EMG (aEMG) activities of all studied muscles increased with running speed, particularly in pre-contact and braking phases (P < 0.05).
    • At higher speeds, EMG activities in gastrocnemius, vastus lateralis, biceps femoris, and gluteus maximus exceeded 100% MVC during specific phases.
    • Maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) may not fully represent the activation potential of skeletal muscles during dynamic activities.

    Conclusions:

    • Maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) are insufficient indicators of peak muscle activation during high-speed running.
    • Elevated pre-contact EMG activity enhances stretch reflexes, increasing tendomuscular stiffness and force production.
    • Optimal running performance requires increased EMG activity in two-joint muscles throughout the running cycle.