ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT OF BACK MUSCLES IN CYCLING: A CASE STUDY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5902/2236583414192Abstract
Here we quantified the electric neuromuscular activity of selected back muscles of a trained mountain bike cyclist without history of low back pain. For data collection, cyclist’ own bicycle was attached to a cycle simulator. The cyclist cycled at workload set between 70% and 80% of peak power output until exhaustion. Electromyography data was analyzed considering the root mean square values computed to represent the overall magnitude of activation. There was a general increase in the muscle activation for all the muscles analyzed. This behavior was remarked for trapezius descendens (2.4%) and iliocostalis (31.77%) in the non-preferred body side, whereas the longissimus increased activation (11.33%) in the preferred side. The increase in muscle activation without report of low back pain suggests that effects of fatigue were observed. The protocol was useful to elicit fatigue in back muscles and can serve to investigate muscular imbalances usually associated with low back pain and hip weakness.
Descriptors: Back Pain; Cycling; Fatigue; Exercise; Spine; Muscle Activation.