title: Ventilatory threshold during incremental running can be estimated using EMG shorts.
abstract: The present study examined whether shorts with textile electromyographic (EMG) electrodes can be used to detect second ventilatory threshold (V(T2)) during incremental treadmill running. Thirteen recreationally active (REC) and eight endurance athletes were measured for EMG, heart rate, blood lactate and respiratory gases during VO(2max) test (3 min ramps, 1 km·h(-1) increments). V(T)(2), onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA) and EMG threshold (EMG(T)) were determined. In athletes, OBLA occurred at 56 ± 6 mL·kg(-1)·min(-1), V(T2) occurred at 59 ± 6 mL·kg(-1)·min(-1), and EMG(T) at 62 ± 6 mL·kg(-1)·min(-1) without significant differences between methods (analysis of variance: ANOVA). In REC participants, OBLA occurred at 40 ± 10 mL·kg(-1)·min(-1), V(T2) occurred at 43 ± 7 mL·kg(-1)·min(-1), and EMG(T) at 41 ± 9 mL·kg(-1)·min(-1) without significant differences between methods (ANOVA). For the entire group, correlation between EMG(T) and V(T2) was 0.86 (P < 0.001) and 0.84 (P < 0.001) between EMG(T) and OBLA. Limits of agreement between EMG(T) and V(T2) were narrower in athletes than in REC participants. Thus, it is concluded that estimation of V(T2) using EMG(T) in athletes is more valid than in REC participants. In practice, experienced runners could use online feedback from EMG garments to monitor whether their running intensity is near V(T2).
authors.affiliation: Neuromuscular Research Center, Department of Biology of Physical Activity, University of Jyväskylä, Finland. olli.tikkanen@megaemg.com
authors.forename: Olli
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tikkanen
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Toivo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vilavuo
authors.forename: Pekka
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tolvanen
authors.forename: Sulin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Taija
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Finni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015308:Anaerobic Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D056352:Athletes; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology*; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D019344:Lactic Acid