Abstract
BACKGROUND:
The mechanism by which increased compression affects muscle strength and electromyographic (EMG) time/frequency domain behavior during prolonged muscle actions has yet to be elucidated.
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the effectiveness of compression on quadriceps strength and endurance and EMG amplitude/frequency of the quadriceps during repeated concentric muscle contractions.
METHODS:
Twelve healthy male athletes executed 25 maximal repeated isokinetic knee extensions in compression garment (CG) and control condition(CC) at 60 and 300°/s on a dynamometer. The EMG time and frequency domain behavior of the rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), and vastus medialis were collected synchronously.
RESULTS:
Compression exerted no significant effect on peak moment and total work during the isokinetic contractions. By contrast, the overall EMG root mean square amplitude was significantly lower (p < 0.05) in CG than in CC while the EMG mean power frequency of the RF and VL was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in CG than in CC at 60°/s.
CONCLUSION:
The described effects may potentially improve muscle endurance and fatigue resistance during prolonged muscle actions.