Effects of training on postexercise limb muscle EMG synchronous to respiration

Twenty university students (10 trained and 10 untrained) participated in 60 sessions testing the effect of training on postexercise electromyogram synchronous to respiration. The latter was recorded for m. biceps brachii dextra, m. quadriceps femoris dextra, and m. gastrocnemium dextra. The respiration rate was taken before and after three levels of functional effort performed on a bicycle ergometer. The first (2 X 30 s with a 20-s interval at 100 rpm and 245 W) and the second (5 X 1 min with a 30-s interval after each min, at 90 rpm and 200 W) were of speed-developing nature; the third (20 min at 60 rpm and 117 W with 1-min interval every 5 min) was to develop endurance. Our observations show that the greatest percentage of a synchronous-to-respiration muscle bioelectric activity can be observed after the first two types of effort. In the third type the percentage is smaller and the duration of the activity is shorter. On the other hand, the percentage of biopotential occurrence is greater for untrained persons, with a considerable longer disappearance time. The phenomenon can be used as a criterion in the athlete's functional diagnosis.