@article{ref1,
title="The electromyographic threshold in girls and women",
journal="Pediatric exercise science",
year="2016",
author="Long, Devon and Dotan, Raffy and Pitt, Brynlynn and McKinlay, Brandon and O'Brien, Thomas D. and Tokuno, Craig and Falk, Bareket",
volume="29",
number="1",
pages="84-93",
abstract="BACKGROUND: The electromyographic threshold (EMGTh) is thought to reflect increased high-threshold/type-II motor-unit (MU) recruitment and was shown higher in boys than in men. Women differ from men in muscular function. <br><br>PURPOSE: Establish whether females' EMGTh and girls-women differences are different than males'. <br><br>METHODS: Nineteen women (22.9±3.3yrs) and 20 girls (10.3±1.1yrs) had surface EMG recorded from the right and left vastus lateralis muscles during ramped cycle-ergometry to exhaustion. EMG root-mean-squares were averaged per pedal revolution. EMGTh was determined as the least residual sum of squares for any two regression-line data divisions, if the trace rose ≥3SD above its regression line. EMGTh was expressed as % final power-output (%Pmax) and %VO2pk power (%PVO2pk). <br><br>RESULTS: EMGTh was detected in 13 (68%) of women, but only 9 (45%) of girls (p<0.005) and tended to be higher in the girls (%Pmax= 88.6±7.0 vs. 83.0±6.9%, p=0.080; %PVO2pk= (101.6±17.6 vs. 90.6±7.8%, p=0.063). When EMGTh was undetected it was assumed to occur at 100%Pmax or beyond. Consequently, EMGTh values turned significantly higher in girls than in women (94.8±7.4 vs. 88.4±9.9 %Pmax, p=0.026; and 103.2±11.7 vs. 95.2±9.9 %PVO2pk, p=0.028). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: During progressive exercise, girls appear to rely less on higher-threshold/type-II MUs than do women, suggesting differential muscle activation strategy.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0899-8493",
doi="10.1123/pes.2016-0056",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/pes.2016-0056"
}