Analysis of Lower Limb Muscle Function in Ergometer Rowing

Abstract

In an effort to seek further understanding of lower limb muscle function in the rowing movement, an electromyographic analysis was undertaken of rowers rowing on a Gjessing ergometer. A strain gauged transducer was inserted in the ergometer linkage between handle and flywheel to detect pulling force. Electrodes were placed on the following lower limb muscles: gluteus maximus, biceps femoris, rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, gastrocnemius, and tibialis anterior. Linear envelope electromyograms from each muscle and the force signals were sampled synchronously at 50 Hz. The results indicated that all six muscles were active from catch to finish of the drive phase. Biceps femoris, gluteus maximus, gastrocnemius, and vastus lateralis all began their activity at or just prior to catch and reached maximal excitation near peak force of the stroke. Rectus femoris and tibialis anterior activity began prior to the catch and reached maximal excitation subsequent to peak force. The coactivation of the five leg muscles, of which four were biarticular, included potentially antagonistic actions that would cancel each other's effects. Clearly, however, other explanations must be considered. Both gastrocnemius and biceps femoris have been shown to act as knee extensors and may do so in the case of the rowing action. Furthermore, rectus femoris may act with unchanging length as a knee extensor by functioning as a rigid link between the pelvis and tibia. In this manner, energy created by the hip extensors is transferred across the knee joint via the isometrically contracting rectus femoris muscle.The increasing popularity of rowing and advances in technology in this decade have prompted many kinesiological investigations of simulated rowing. Despite numerous physiologically oriented investigations-maximal oxygen consumption abilities, blood lactate levels, muscle biopsies (Hagerman, 1984), and ECG analyses (Larsson, 1980)-biomechanical information about rowing movements is scarce. Moreover, the majority of investigators have focused on quan-

Effect of power output on muscle coordination during rowing

“…The synergy analysis, which extracts the underlying structure of the activations (patterns of co-variation among multiple muscles), also showed a large consistency across the three power outputs for both populations. Individual EMG patterns reported in the present study are in agreement with EMG patterns reported in the literature (Guével et al 2011;Lay et al 2002;Pollock et al 2009;Rodriguez et al 1990;Wilson et al 1988). However, these previous studies recorded a limited number of muscles (up to 12 muscles).…”

“…2 shows that this synergy had a time course roughly similar to Fx, i.e., the horizontal component of the footstretcher forces. This confirms previous observations highlighting the major functional role of the knee extensors to produce power on a rowing ergometer (Rodriguez et al 1990;Wilson et al 1988). Synergy #2 engaged the action of both the arm and trunk muscles.…”

“…While the physiological and biomechanical parameters associated with rowing performance have been largely studied (Hagerman 1984;Soper and Hume 2004;Volianitis and Secher 2009), few data are available about muscle coordination [defined as ''a distribution of muscle activation or force among individual muscles to produce a given combination of joint moments'' (Prilutsky 2000)]. Using surface electromyography (EMG), some studies have reported muscle activity patterns on a rowing ergometer (Lay et al 2002;Pollock et al 2009;Rodriguez et al 1990;Wilson et al 1988). However, despite that rowing involves numerous muscles and requires the skilled coordination of the upper and lower limbs (Rodriguez et al 1990;Soper and Hume 2004) these studies recorded a limited number of muscles (up to 12 muscles).…”

Effects of oxygen fraction in inspired air on force production and electromyogram activity during ergometer rowing

“…This would have caused a low correlation between force and sum-iEMG. The muscles measured have, however, been reported to be among the most essential ones in rowing (Balle et al 1983;Wilson et al 1988). We believe that despite this above-mentioned handicap, the method used made it possible to study the eects of F I O 2 on force production and muscle electrical activity during severe exercise.…”

“…A similar method has been widely used in ergometer rowing (e.g. Wilson et al 1988). The range of the knee joint movement was monitored by an electrical goniometer attached to the medial side of the right knee.…”