Effects of Altering Pedal Frequency on the Slow Component of Pulmonary V˙O2 Kinetics and EMG Activity

D. M. Hirai; B. T. Roseguini; F. Diefenthaeler; F. P. Carpes; M. A. Vaz; E. L. Ferlin; J. P. Ribeiro; F. Y. Nakamura

doi:10.1055/s-0030-1251989

International Journal of Sports Medicine, Table of Contents

Int J Sports Med 2010; 31(8): 529-536
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1251989

Physiology & Biochemistry

Effects of Altering Pedal Frequency on the Slow Component of Pulmonary V˙O ₂ Kinetics and EMG Activity

D. M. Hirai¹ , B. T. Roseguini² , F. Diefenthaeler³ , F. P. Carpes⁴ , M. A. Vaz⁵ , E. L. Ferlin² , J. P. Ribeiro² ^, ⁶ , F. Y. Nakamura¹

¹State University of Londrina, Department of Physical Education, Londrina, Brazil
²Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Exercise Pathophysiology Research Laboratory and Cardiology Division, Porto Alegre, Brazil
³Federal University of Santa Catarina, Centro de Esportes, Biomechanics Laboratory, Florianopólis, Brazil
⁴Federal University of Pampa, Uruguaiana, Brazil
⁵Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, School of Physical Education, Exercise Research Laboratory, Porto Alegre, Brazil
⁶Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Porto Alegre, Brazil

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of pedal frequency on the slow component of pulmonary oxygen uptake (V˙O ₂) kinetics during heavy exercise at the same relative intensity. We hypothesized that higher pedal frequency (expected to enhance fast-twitch muscle fiber recruitment) would be associated with greater slow component amplitude (A’_s), surface electromyography (normalized root mean square; RMS) and blood lactate concentration ([lactate]). Eight subjects performed square-wave transitions to heavy exercise at 35 and 115 rpm. Furthermore, alternated cadences square-wave transitions (35–115 rpm) were performed to examine the potential effects of additional fast-twitch muscle fiber recruitment on the slow component. Significance was accepted when P<0.05. The A’_s was greater at higher cadences (0.58±0.08 and 0.70±0.09 L.min⁻¹ at 115 and 35–115 rpm, respectively) than at 35 rpm (0.35±0.04 L.min⁻¹). Greater EMG increase over time (ΔRMS_{(10–3 min)}) and [lactate] were observed at 115 and 35–115 rpm compared with 35 rpm. There was a significant correlation between A’_s and overall ΔRMS_{(10–3 min)} for all pedal frequencies combined (r=0.63; P=0.001). Pedal frequency had no effect on time constants or time delays. These findings are consistent with the concept that progressive recruitment of muscle fibers is associated with the V˙O ₂ slow component.

Key words

exercise - contraction frequency - oxygen uptake - surface electromyography

Full Text

References

1 Ahlquist LE, Bassett DR Jr, Sufit R, Nagle FJ, Thomas DP. The effect of pedaling frequency on glycogen depletion rates in type I and type II quadriceps muscle fibers during submaximal cycling exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol. 1992; 65 360-364
2 Altenburg TM, Degens H, van Mechelen W, Sargeant AJ, de Haan A. Recruitment of single muscle fibers during submaximal cycling exercise. J Appl Physiol. 2007; 103 1752-1756
3 Armstrong RB, Peterson DF. Patterns of glycogen loss in muscle fibers: response to arterial occlusion during exercise. J Appl Physiol. 1981; 51 552-556
4 Barstow TJ, Jones AM, Nguyen PH, Casaburi R. Influence of muscle fiber type and pedal frequency on oxygen uptake kinetics of heavy exercise. J Appl Physiol. 1996; 81 1642-1650
5 Beaver WL, Wasserman K, Whipp BJ. A new method for detecting anaerobic threshold by gas exchange. J Appl Physiol. 1986; 60 2020-2027
6 Bernasconi S, Tordi N, Perrey S, Parratte B, Monnier G. Is the VO₂ slow component in heavy arm-cranking exercise associated with recruitment of type II muscle fibers as assessed by an increase in surface EMG?. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2006; 31 414-422
7 Cannon DT, Kolkhorst FW, Cipriani DJ. Electromyographic data do not support a progressive recruitment of muscle fibers during exercise exhibiting a VO₂ slow component. J Physiol Anthropol. 2007; 26 541-546
8 Coyle EF, Sidossis LS, Horowitz JF, Beltz JD. Cycling efficiency is related to the percentage of type I muscle fibers. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1992; 24 782-788
9 Crow MT, Kushmerick MJ. Chemical energetics of slow- and fast-twitch muscles of the mouse. J Gen Physiol. 1982; 79 147-166
10 DiMenna FJ, Wilkerson DP, Burnley M, Bailey SJ, Jones AM. Influence of extreme pedal rates on pulmonary O₂ uptake kinetics during transitions to high-intensity exercise from an elevated baseline. Respir Physiol Neurobiol. 2009; 169 16-23
11 DiMenna FJ, Wilkerson DP, Burnley M, Bailey SJ, Jones AM. Influence of priming exercise on pulmonary O₂ uptake kinetics during transitions to high-intensity exercise at extreme pedal rates. J Appl Physiol. 2009; 106 432-442
12 Farina D, Merletti R, Enoka RM. The extraction of neural strategies from the surface EMG. J Appl Physiol. 2004; 96 1486-1495
13 Ferguson RA, Aagaard P, Ball D, Sargeant AJ, Bangsbo J. Total power output generated during dynamic knee extensor exercise at different contraction frequencies. J Appl Physiol. 2000; 89 1912-1918
14 Ferguson RA, Ball D, Krustrup P, Aagaard P, Kjær M, Sargeant AJ, Hellsten Y, Bangsbo J. Muscle oxygen uptake and energy turnover during dynamic exercise at different contraction frequencies in humans. J Physiol. 2001; 536 261-271
15 Ferreira LF, Lutjemeier BJ, Townsend DK, Barstow TJ. Effects of pedal frequency on estimated muscle microvascular O₂ extraction. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2006; 96 558-563
16 Gaesser GA, Poole DC. The slow component of oxygen uptake kinetics in humans. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 1996; 24 35-71
17 Gladden LB. Lactic acid: New roles in a new millennium. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2001; 98 395-397
18 Gollnick PD, Armstrong RB, Saubert CW, Piehl K, Saltin B. Enzyme activity and fiber composition in skeletal muscle of untrained and trained men. J Appl Physiol. 1972; 33 312-319
19 Gollnick PD, Piehl K, Saltin B. Selective glycogen depletion pattern in human muscle fibres after exercise of varying intensity and at varying pedalling rates. J Physiol. 1974; 241 45-57
20 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. International Journal of Sports Medicine – ethical standards in sport and exercise science research. Int J Sports Med. 2009; 30 701-702
21 Hermens HJ, Freriks B, Disselhorst-Klug C, Rau G. Development of recommendations for SEMG sensors and sensor placement procedures. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2000; 10 361-374
22 Hoelting BD, Scheuermann BW, Barstow TJ. Effect of contraction frequency on leg blood flow during knee extension exercise in humans. J Appl Physiol. 2001; 91 671-679
23 Hug F, Dorel S. Electromyographic analysis of pedaling: a review. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2009; 19 182-198
24 Hughes EF, Turner SC, Brooks GA. Effects of glycogen depletion and pedaling speed on “anaerobic threshold”. J Appl Physiol. 1982; 52 1598-1607
25 Hughson RL. Exploring cardiorespiratory control mechanisms through gas exchange dynamics. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1990; 22 72-79
26 Jones AM, Burnley M. Effect of exercise modality on VO2 kinetics.. In: Jones AM, Poole DC, (eds.) Oxygen Uptake Kinetics in Sport, Exercise and Medicine. 1st edition New York: Routledge; 2005: 95-114
27 Koga S, Shiojiri T, Shibasaki M, Fukuba Y, Fukuoka Y, Kondo N. Kinetics of oxygen uptake and cardiac output at onset of arm exercise. Respir Physiol. 1996; 103 195-202
28 Krustrup P, Soderlund K, Mohr M, Bangsbo J. Slow-twitch fiber glycogen depletion elevates moderate-exercise fast-twitch fiber activity and O₂ uptake. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004; 36 973-982
29 Krustrup P, Soderlund K, Mohr M, Bangsbo J. The slow component of oxygen uptake during intense, sub-maximal exercise in man is associated with additional fibre recruitment. Pflugers Arch. 2004; 447 855-866
30 MacIntosh BR, Neptune RR, Horton JF. Cadence, power, and muscle activation in cycle ergometry. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000; 32 1281-1287
31 Mannion AF, Jakeman PM, Willan PL. Skeletal muscle buffer value, fibre type distribution and high intensity exercise performance in man. Exp Physiol. 1995; 80 89-101
32 McDaniel J, Durstine JL, Hand GA, Martin JC. Determinants of metabolic cost during submaximal cycling. J Appl Physiol. 2002; 93 823-828
33 Migita T, Hirakoba K. Effect of different pedal rates on oxygen uptake slow component during constant-load cycling exercise. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2006; 46 189-196
34 Neptune RR, Kautz SA, Hull ML. The effect of pedaling rate on coordination in cycling. J Biomech. 1997; 30 1051-1058
35 Osada T, Radegran G. Femoral artery inflow in relation to external and total work rate at different knee extensor contraction rates. J Appl Physiol. 2002; 92 1325-1330
36 Perrey S, Betik A, Candau R, Rouillon JD, Hughson RL. Comparison of oxygen uptake kinetics during concentric and eccentric cycle exercise. J Appl Physiol. 2001; 91 2135-2142
37 Poole DC, Gladden LB, Kurdak S, Hogan MC. L-(+)-lactate infusion into working dog gastrocnemius: no evidence lactate per se mediates VO₂ slow component. J Appl Physiol. 1994; 76 787-792
38 Poole DC, Schaffartzik W, Knight DR, Derion T, Kennedy B, Guy HJ, Prediletto R, Wagner PD. Contribution of exercising legs to the slow component of oxygen uptake kinetics in humans. J Appl Physiol. 1991; 71 1245-1260
39 Pringle JS, Doust JH, Carter H, Tolfrey K, Campbell IT, Sakkas GK, Jones AM. Oxygen uptake kinetics during moderate, heavy and severe intensity “submaximal” exercise in humans: the influence of muscle fibre type and capillarisation. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2003; 89 289-300
40 Pringle JS, Doust JH, Carter H, Tolfrey K, Jones AM. Effect of pedal rate on primary and slow-component oxygen uptake responses during heavy-cycle exercise. J Appl Physiol. 2003; 94 1501-1507
41 Rossiter HB, Ward SA, Howe FA, Kowalchuk JM, Griffiths JR, Whipp BJ. Dynamics of intramuscular ³¹P-MRS P_i peak splitting and the slow components of PCr and O₂ uptake during exercise. J Appl Physiol. 2002; 93 2059-2069
42 Sabapathy S, Schneider DA, Morris NR. The VO₂ slow component: relationship between plasma ammonia and EMG activity. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2005; 37 1502-1509
43 Sargeant AJ. Human power output and muscle fatigue. Int J Sports Med. 1994; 15 116-121
44 Saunders MJ, Evans EM, Arngrimsson SA, Allison JD, Warren GL, Cureton KJ. Muscle activation and the slow component rise in oxygen uptake during cycling. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000; 32 2040-2045
45 Scheuermann BW, Hoelting BD, Noble ML, Barstow TJ. The slow component of O₂ uptake is not accompanied by changes in muscle EMG during repeated bouts of heavy exercise in humans. J Physiol. 2001; 531 245-256
46 Shinohara M, Moritani T. Increase in neuromuscular activity and oxygen uptake during heavy exercise. Ann Physiol Anthropol. 1992; 11 257-262
47 Sjøgaard G, Hansen EA, Osada T. Blood flow and oxygen uptake increase with total power during five different knee-extension contraction rates. J Appl Physiol. 2002; 93 1676-1684
48 Smith PM, McCrindle E, Doherty M, Price MJ, Jones AM. Influence of crank rate on the slow component of pulmonary O₂ uptake during heavy arm-crank exercise. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2006; 31 292-301
49 Vercruyssen F, Missenard O, Brisswalter J. Relationship between oxygen uptake slow component and surface EMG during heavy exercise in humans: influence of pedal rate. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2009; 19 676-684
50 Wasserman K, Whipp BJ, Koyl SN, Beaver WL. Anaerobic threshold and respiratory gas exchange during exercise. J Appl Physiol. 1973; 35 236-243
51 Zoladz JA, Gladden LB, Hogan MC, Nieckarz Z, Grassi B. Progressive recruitment of muscle fibers is not necessary for the slow component of VO₂ kinetics. J Appl Physiol. 2008; 105 575-580
52 Zoladz JA, Rademaker AC, Sargeant AJ. Human muscle power generating capability during cycling at different pedalling rates. Exp Physiol. 2000; 85 117-124

Correspondence

Prof. Fábio Yuzo Nakamura

Universidade Estadual de Londrina

Departamento de Educação Física

Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid km 380

Campus Universitário

86015-990 Londrina

Brazil

Phone: +55/43/3371 4238

Fax: +55/43/3371 4144

Email: fabioy_nakamura@yahoo.com.br

Effects of Altering Pedal Frequency on the Slow Component of Pulmonary V˙O 2 Kinetics and EMG Activity

Effects of Altering Pedal Frequency on the Slow Component of Pulmonary V˙O ₂ Kinetics and EMG Activity