title: Comparison of recovery strategies on maximal force-generating capacity and electromyographic activity level of the knee extensor muscles.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  With regard to intermittent training exercise, the effects of the mode of recovery on subsequent performance are equivocal.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effects of 3 types of recovery intervention on peak torque (PT) and electromyographic (EMG) activity of the knee extensor muscles after fatiguing isokinetic intermittent concentric exercise.
  
  
  METHODS
  Crossover study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Research laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight elite judo players (age = 18.4 ± 1.4 years, height = 180 ± 3 cm, mass = 77.0 ± 4.2 kg).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed 3 randomized sessions within 7 days. Each session consisted of 5 sets of 10 concentric knee extensions at 80% PT at 120°/s, with 3 minutes of recovery between sets. Recovery interventions were passive, active, and electromyostimulation. The PT and maximal EMG activity were recorded simultaneously while participants performed isokinetic dynamometer trials before and 3 minutes after the resistance exercise.
  
  
  METHODS
  The PT and maximal EMG activity from the knee extensors were quantified at isokinetic velocities of 60°/s, 120°/s, and 180°/s, with 5 repetitions at each velocity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The reduction in PT observed after electromyostimulation was less than that seen after passive (P < .001) or active recovery (P < .001). The reduction in PT was less after passive recovery than after active recovery (P < .001). The maximal EMG activity level observed after electromyostimulation was higher than that seen after active recovery (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Electromyostimulation was an effective recovery tool in decreasing neuromuscular fatigue after high-intensity, intermittent isokinetic concentric exercise for the knee extensor muscles. Also, active recovery induced the greatest amount of neuromuscular fatigue.
authors.affiliation: Neurophysiologie de la Vigilance, de l'Attention et des Performances, Service d'Explorations Fonctionnelles du Système Nerveux, CHU Sahloul, Sousse, Tunisia. nidhal.zarrouk@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Nidhal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zarrouk
authors.forename: Haithem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rebai
authors.forename: Abdelmoneem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yahia
authors.forename: Nizar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Souissi
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hug
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dogui
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000502:physiology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D055070:Resistance Training