Sex- and age-related behaviour of the integrated EMG during one-arm cranking

There are load-dependent increases in the bioelectrical activity (iEMG) of muscles of the shoulder and the right upper extremity and selected parameters of the cardiopulmonary system. At comparable loads the amplitudes of the EMG were higher in the group of men than in the group of women. The iEMG values were found to be higher in the younger group of women than in the older one. The higher values of iEMG of the younger women corresponded to a higher oxygen uptake and higher heart rate as well as to a lower physical endurance. The physical endurance limit (derived from behaviour of the EMG) was estimated at 5 watts (women) and 10 watts (men).