Effect of exercise of the lower limbs on the non-exercised biceps brachii muscle

The electrophysiological pattern of fatigue of the biceps brachii (BB) muscle before and after bicycle leg exercise (LE), was evaluated in 12 healthy volunteers. In healthy people, the onset of isometric contraction is initiated by smaller motor units with briefer durations and higher spike frequencies. With the progression of contraction and muscular fatigue, electromyographic decrease in frequency and an increased spike duration occur. In our study, these findings were presented in subjects at the Final Value (FV) of electromyography before and after LE. In 8 subjects, the Initial Value (IV) of spike duration was longer after LE and a decrease in the frequency of electromyography was found in 9 of the 12 subjects. The changes in these two parameters at the onset of the BB contraction after LE may be due to the existence of an electrophysiological transfer effect. Eight subjects sustained the isometric BB contraction longer after LE than before LE. This may be explained by a diverting activity or other factors. Venous lactic acid was measured in 7 subjects and showed an increase after LE. No definite correlation between electromyographic changes and lactic acid was found.