title: Assessment of the upper body contribution to multiple-sprint cycling in men and women.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of repeated cycling sprints on power profiles while assessing upper body muscle contraction. Eighteen physically active participants performed 8 × 10 s repeated sprints while muscle activity was recorded via surface electromyography (sEMG) from the brachioradialis (BR), biceps brachii (BB), triceps brachii (TB) and upper trapezius (UT). Measurements were obtained at rest, during a functional maximum contraction (FMC) while participants were positioned in a seated position on the cycle ergometer and during the repeated sprint protocol. Results suggest that mainly type I muscle fibres (MFs) are being recruited within the upper body musculature due to the submaximal and intermittent nature of the contractions. Subsequently, there is no evidence of upper body fatigue across the sprints, which is reflected in the lack of changes in the median frequency of the power spectrum (P<0·05).
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Exercise and Health Science, Exercise Science Research Laboratory, School of Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the West of Scotland, Hamilton, UK.|Division of Sport and Exercise Sciences, School of Social & Health Sciences, Abertay University, Dundee, UK.
authors.forename: Marie Clare
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Exercise and Health Science, Exercise Science Research Laboratory, School of Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the West of Scotland, Hamilton, UK.
authors.forename: Hugh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Exercise and Health Science, Exercise Science Research Laboratory, School of Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the West of Scotland, Hamilton, UK.
authors.forename: Julien S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology*; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
keywords: intermittent; median frequency; power spectrum; submaximal; surface electromyography