Neuromuscular Parameters Predict the Performance in an Incremental Cycling Test

Abstract

The aim was to determine the predictive capacity of neuromuscular parameters on physiological predictors of performance related to pedaling power. The sample comprised fifty elite cyclists. On the same day, they were given a neuromuscular evaluation with tensiomyography (TMG) and then performed an effort test on a cycle ergometer until exhaustion. The TMG recorded the maximum radial muscle belly displacement, contraction time, delay time, derivative normalized response speed, and lateral symmetry. Peak power output (Wpeak·kg), effort time, maximum lactate concentration, power in the first lactate threshold, and power in the second lactate threshold were recorded in the effort test. Linear regression analysis was used to determine the explanatory capacity of neuromuscular parameters on potential cycling performance indicators. A higher Wpeak·kg during a maximal incremental test on the cycle ergometer can be predicted moderately (R=0.683; Ra=0.615; R=0.826; Std. Error=0.26017; p<0.001) by a longer rectus femoris contraction time and a greater radial muscle belly displacement of the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis as well as a slower normalized response speed of the biceps femoris. In conclusion, neuromuscular parameters can partially explain performance in a specific cycling test until exhaustion.

<p>Clinical utility of tensiomyography for muscle function analysis in athletes</p>

“…Also, it has been analyzed the relationships between the cyclists' power developed in an incremental test until exhaustion and TMG parameters observing correlations between W max and higher values of Tc in RF and Dm in VM and VL, and lower values of Vrn in BF. The results of this work indicate that the neuromuscular parameters can predict, at least partially, the performance in an aerobic test until exhaustion in road cyclists 13. TMG parameters have also been related to jumping performance (Table 2).…”

“…Wiewelhove et al10 and Simola et al11 specify that “average of two maximal twitches was used for futher analyzes” or Giovanelli et al12 suggest recording two maximum responses for the subsequent analysis. Nevertheless, García-García et al13 propose “only the curve with the highest maximum radial displacement was included in the analysis for each muscle assessed”. We suggest that the protocol with TMG must specify exactly which displacement-time curves are taken into consideration for the subsequent analysis.…”

“…The incremental protocol until reaching the maximum stimulus, in our opinion, is the only one that allows determining the maximal radial displacement of the muscle belly. In this sense, it is suggested that elite athletes usually reach the maximum Dm between 90 and 110 mA, while other non-athletic or recreational populations reach it at clearly lower intensities, so using other protocols with a limited number of stimuli does not seem the right solution with elite or well-trained athletes to obtain the maximum Dm 5,13…”

Is Low-Frequency Electrical Stimulation a Tool for Recovery after a Water Rescue? A Cross-Over Study with Lifeguards

“…Measurements were made on the rectus femoris muscle of the dominant leg under static and relaxed conditions at baseline (a measurement prior to the beginning of the tests), after the water rescue and after recovery. With the participant in the supine position, the knee joint was fixed at a 120 [23]. Both electrodes (5 × 5 cm) were placed symmetrically to the sensor; the positive electrode (anode) was placed proximally, and the negative electrode (cathode) distally, 5 cm from the measuring point.…”

“…A Trans-Tek ® DC-DC digital displacement transducer (GK 40, Panoptik d.o.o., Ljubljana, Slovenia), which incorporates a spring of 0.17 N·m −1 , was set perpendicular to the muscle belly. The measuring point for each muscle was anatomically established as the point of maximal muscle belly displacement detected by palpation during a voluntary contraction [ 23 ]. Both electrodes (5 × 5 cm) were placed symmetrically to the sensor; the positive electrode (anode) was placed proximally, and the negative electrode (cathode) distally, 5 cm from the measuring point.…”