Download PDF
Int J Sports Med 2006; 27(3): 212-219
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-865624
Training & Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Effects of Prior Exercise on Force-Velocity Test Performance and Quadriceps EMG

A. Temfemo1 , D. Bishop2 , A. Merzouk1 , M. Gayda1 , S. Ahmaïdi1
  • 1Laboratoire de Recherche EA3300 «APS et Conduites Motrices: Adaptations-Réadaptations», Faculté des Sciences du Sport, Université de Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
  • 2Team Sport Research Group, School of Human Movement and Exercise Science, the University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
Further Information

Publication History

Accepted after revision: March 7, 2005

Publication Date:
25 July 2005 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of prior exercise on performance during a subsequent force-velocity (FV) exercise test. After determination of the individual maximal aerobic power (MAP) during maximal graded exercise testing, fifteen trained male subjects (age: 25 ± 3 y) were randomly assigned to perform the FV exercise test without prior exercise (NPE) or preceded by prior exercise (PE) (10 min at 60 % of MAP, followed after 1-min rest interval by four intervals of 30-s cycling at 100 % MAP with 15-s rest intervals, then 10 min recovery). Blood samples were drawn at rest, and then for each work load at the 3rd minute of recovery. Skin temperature (Tsk) from the rectus femoris and heart rate (HR) were measured continuously during prior exercise, the FV test, and during the 5-min recovery period at the end of each FV test. The Root Mean Square (RMS) of the surface electromyogram (EMG) signals obtained from the vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis (VM), and rectus femoris (RF) were calculated during each sprint for each FV test. The lactate increase for each load (ΔLa) during the FV test was significantly less following PE than NPE. However, the lactate concentration (La) was significantly higher in the FV test following PE than NPE. There was an improvement in power output during the first two sprints (2 and 4 kg) following PE compared to NPE. There was also a more pronounced decrease in VL, VM, and RF RMS in PE compared to NPE. Our results showed that the first few sprints may provide sufficient prior exercise for the FV test. The higher lactate concentration following PE than NPE, despite no difference in maximum power, suggests that a large lactate accumulation may not be detrimental to FV test performance. However, a greater lactate concentration and Tsk may be associated with a decrease in RMS.

Key words

Force velocity - warm-up - blood lactate - power output - EMG

References

  • 1 Anselme F K, Collomp B, Mercier B, Ahmaidi S, Prefaut C. Caffeine increases maximal anaerobic power and blood lactate concentration.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1992;  65 188-191
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Bangsbo J, Krustrup P, Gonzalez-Alonso J, Boushel R, Saltin B. Muscle oxygen kinetics at onset of intense dynamic exercise in humans.  Am J Physiol. 2000;  279 899-906
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Bertocci L A, Gollnick P D. pH effect on mitochondria and individual enzyme function.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1985;  17 244-249
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Billat V L, Bocquet V, Slawinski J, Laffite L, Demarle A, Chassaing P, Koralsztein J P. Effect of a prior intermittent run at vV·O2max on oxygen kinetics during an all-out severe run in humans.  J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2000;  40 185-194
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Bishop D, Bonetti D, Spencer M. The effect of an intermittent, high-intensity warm-up on supramaximal kayak ergometer performance.  J Sports Sci. 2003;  21 13-20
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Boning D, Hollnagel C, Boecker A, Goke S. Bohr shift by lactic acid and the supply of O2 to skeletal muscle.  Respir Physiol. 1991;  85 231-243
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Bouissou P, Estrade P Y, Goubel F, Guezennec C Y, Serrurier B. Surface EMG power spectrum and intramuscular pH in human vastus lateralis muscle during dynamic exercise.  J Appl Physiol. 1989;  67 1245-1249
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Burnley M, Doust J H, Ball D, Jones A M. Effects of prior heavy exercise on V·O2 kinetics during heavy exercise are related to changes in muscle activity.  J Appl Physiol. 2002;  93 167-174
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Farina D, Merletti R. Methods for estimating muscle fibre conduction velocity from surface electromyographic signals.  Med Biol Eng Comput. 2004;  42 432-445
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Francaux M, Jacqmin P, De Welle M J, Strurbois X. A study of lactate metabolism without tracer during passive and active postexercise recovery in humans.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1995;  72 58-66
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Genovely H, Stamford B A. Effects of prolonged prior exercise exercise above and below anaerobic threshold on maximal performance.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1982;  48 323-330
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Granier P, Dubouchaud H, Mercier B, Mercier J, Ahmaidi S, Prefaut C. Lactate uptake by forearm skeletal muscles during repeated periods of short-term intense leg exercise in humans.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1996;  72 209-214
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Gray S C, Devito G, Nimmo M A. Effect of active warm-up on metabolism prior to and during intense dynamic exercise.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2002;  34 2091-2096
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Horita T, Ishiko T. Relationships between muscle lactate accumulation and surface EMG activities during isokinetic contractions in man.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1987;  56 18-23
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Inbar O, Dotan R, Troussil T, Dvir Z. The effect of bicycle crank-length variation upon power performance.  Ergometrics. 1983;  26 1139-1146
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Kesavachandran C, Shashidhar S. Respiratory function during prior exercise exercise in athletes.  India Pharmacol. 1997;  41 159-165
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Mainwood G W, Rainaud J M. The effect of acid-base on fatigue of skeletal muscle.  Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 1985;  63 403-416
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Mercier J, Mercier B, Prefaut C. Blood lactate increase during the velocity exercise test.  Int J Sports Med. 1991;  1 17-20
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Nielsen O B, De Paoli F, Overgaard K. Protective effects of lactic acid on force production in rat skeletal muscle.  J Physiol. 2001;  536 161-166
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Nikolopoulos V, Arkinstall M J, Hawley J A. Reduced neuromuscular activity with carbohydrate ingestion during constant load cycling.  Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2004;  14 161-170
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Petrofsky J S. Frequency and amplitude analysis of the EMG during exercise on the bicycle ergometer.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1979;  41 1-15
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Pozzo M, Merlo E, Farina D, Antonutto G, Merletti R, Di Prampero P E. Muscle-fiber conduction velocity estimated from surface EMG signals during explosive dynamic contractions.  Muscle Nerve. 2004;  29 823-833
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Rieu M, Ferry A, Martin M C, Duvallet A. Effect of previous supramaximal work on lacticaemia during supra-anaerobic threshold exercise.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1990;  61 223-229
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Robergs R A, Pascoe D D, Costill D L, Fink W J, Chawalbinska-Moneta J, Davis J A, Hickner R. Effects of warm-up on muscle glycogenolysis during intense exercise.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1991;  23 37-43
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Rutkove S B. Effects of temperature on neuromuscular electrophysiology.  Muscle Nerve. 2001;  24 867-882
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Sargeant A J. Effect of muscle temperature on leg extension force and short-term power output in humans.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1987;  56 693-698
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Stewart D, Macaluso A, De Vito G. The effect of active warm-up on surface EMG and muscle performance in healthy humans.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2003;  89 509-513
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Suzuki H, Conwit R A, Stashuk D, Santarsiero L, Metter E J. Relationships between surface-detected EMG signals and motor unit activation.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2002;  34 1509-517
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Vandewalle H, Peres G, Heller J, Pane J, Monod H. Force-velocity relationship and maximal power on a cycle ergometer. Correlation with the height of a vertical jump.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1987;  56 650-656
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Winkel J, Jorgensen K. Significance of skin temperature changes in surface electromyography.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1991;  63 345-348
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar

S. Ahmaïdi

Faculty of Science of Sport

Av. P. Grousset

80025 Amiens Cedex

France

Phone: + 33322827903

Fax: + 33 3 22 82 79 10

Email: said.ahmaidi@ca.u-picardie.fr

      >