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Updated: May 22, 2026

Determining The Electromyographic Fatigue Threshold Following a Single Visit Exercise Test
Published on: July 27, 2015
Spring-mass behavior and electromyographic activity evolution during a cycle-run test to exhaustion in triathletes
1Research Department, National Institute of Sport, Expertise and Performance, 75012 Paris, France.
Purpose:
To evaluate spring-mass (SM) behavior and associated electromyographic (EMG) activity during a run to exhaustion following a cycle exercise in trained triathletes.
Methods:
Ten triathletes completed four tests: a cycling test to determine V˙O(2max); a running test to determine the lactate threshold (LT); a 5 min control run at LT (C-Run) followed after a total recovery period by a cycle-to-run session to exhaustion [30 min of cycling at ∼80% V˙O(2max) followed by a run until exhaustion at LT (T-Run)]. SM behavior and EMG signals in nine lower limb muscles were recorded throughout the running sessions.
Results:
Immediately after cycling, leg stiffness was 12.1% higher than its C-Run value and a concomitant increase of EMG activity of knee extensors was observed during pre-contact. Throughout T-Run, leg stiffness decreased by 7.3%, while knee extensors and ankle flexors activities decreased during pre-contact and braking phases. No significant variations in SM parameters and no significant increase of muscle activity were reported between C-Run and the end of T-Run.
Conclusion:
SM behavior during the cycle-run test was consistent with EMG activity changes. Cessation of exercise was not associated with significant alterations of stiffness values and EMG activity.
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