Surface electromyography during physical exercise in water: a systematic review.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Sports Science
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Aquatic exercise offers significant physical and physiological benefits for rehabilitation and functional recovery.
• Variability in reporting surface electromyography (sEMG) signals during aquatic activities necessitates a standardized review.
• Understanding muscle activation patterns in water is crucial for optimizing therapeutic interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct an updated literature review on muscle activity measured by sEMG during aquatic exercise.
• To synthesize the current state of research on sEMG in aquatic environments.
• To identify gaps and provide insights for future research and clinical applications.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted to identify relevant studies on aquatic exercise movements.
• Selected studies were critically appraised, focusing on sample size, functional tasks, and recorded muscles.
• The clinical relevance and contribution of each selected paper were evaluated.

Main Results:

• Twenty-one studies met the inclusion criteria for the review.
• Analysis included examination of sample sizes, types of functional tasks performed, and specific muscles monitored.
• The clinical utility of the findings from each study was assessed.

Conclusions:

• Muscle activation during aquatic activities generally appears lower than during equivalent land-based exercises.
• The underlying physiological reasons for reduced muscle activity in water require further investigation.
• Integrating knowledge from basic and applied sciences can enhance the clinical application of aquatic exercise research.