Effect of Shoulder Angle on the Activation Pattern of the Elbow Extensors During a Submaximal Isometric Fatiguing Contraction
PURPOSE: The aim of the current study was to examine the effect of shoulder angle on the electromyographic (EMG) activation pattern of the elbow extensors during a fatiguing contraction. METHODS: Ten young men (23.5 ± 1.7) were tested on two occasions with the shoulder at either 0° or 90° of flexion. Baseline isometric maximum voluntary contraction torque and the EMG-torque relationship were determined prior to a sustained isometric contraction at 20% of MVC. RESULTS: EMG activity of the long head during the final 10% o f the fatiguing contraction exhibited a significantly greater increase when at 90° versus 0° with no effect of shoulder angle on any other portion of the elbow extensors. CONCLUSION: Measures from one muscle portion of the elbow extensors are not representative of the whole group under isometric fatiguing contractions, and at longer length the activation o f the long head was greater than at the short length.
riceps Brachii, Elbow Extensors, Fatigue, EMG, Anconeus, Shoulder Angle
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