Lower Arm Muscle Activation during Indirect-Localized Vibration: The Influence of Skill Levels When Applying Different Acceleration Loads.

Johnny Padulo,Antonio Dello Iacono,Zoran Grgantov,Alessandro M Zagatto,Luca P Ardigò,Riccardo Di Giminiani,Gian M Migliaccio

doi:10.3389/fphys.2016.00242

Abstract

We investigated the electromyographic response to synchronous indirect-localized vibration interventions in international and national table tennis players. Twenty-six male table tennis players, in a standing position, underwent firstly an upper arms maximal voluntary contraction and thereafter two different 30-s vibration interventions in random order: high acceleration load (peak acceleration = 12.8 g, frequency = 40 Hz; peak-to-peak displacement = 4.0 mm), and low acceleration load (peak acceleration = 7.2 g, frequency = 30 Hz, peak-to-peak displacement = 4.0 mm). Surface electromyography root mean square from brachioradialis, extensor digitorum, flexor carpi radialis, and flexor digitorum superficialis recorded during the two vibration interventions was normalized to the maximal voluntary contraction recording. Normalized surface electromyography root mean square was higher in international table tennis players with respect to national ones in all the interactions between muscles and vibration conditions (P < 0.05), with the exception of flexor carpi radialis (at low acceleration load, P > 0.05). The difference in normalized surface electromyography root mean square between international table tennis players and national ones increased in all the muscles with high acceleration load (P < 0.05), with the exception of flexor digitorum superficialis (P > 0.05). The muscle activation during indirect-localized vibration seems to be both skill level and muscle dependent. These results can optimize the training intervention in table tennis players when applying indirect-localized vibration to lower arm muscles. Future investigations should discriminate between middle- and long-term adaptations in response to specific vibration loads.

Highlights

In table tennis (TT) players, both motor skills and bioenergetics capacities are crucial in discriminating the player’s level (Mori et al, 2002; Padulo et al, 2016)
Muscle responses in BR, extensor digitorum (ED), flexor carpi radialis (FC), and flexor digitorum superficialis (FS) during high acceleration load (HAL) and low acceleration load (LAL) are summarized in Table 1 and Figures 2, 3
In the FC muscle the surface electromyographic responses (sEMG) response was higher in the LL than the HL group during LAL, whereas during HAL the sEMG response was higher in the HL than the LL group

Summary

Introduction

In table tennis (TT) players, both motor skills and bioenergetics capacities are crucial in discriminating the player’s level (Mori et al, 2002; Padulo et al, 2016). High-level players have higher maximal oxygen consumption and/or anaerobic/aerobic performance indicators as well (Zagatto and Gobatto, 2012). Overall, they achieve higher performance in terms of scores. The overall superiority of the highest-level athletes becomes even more evident under fatigued conditions (Aune et al, 2008), especially in terms of fewer errors made (Padulo et al, 2016)

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Discussion

Conclusion