REPEATABILlTY OF INTRAMUSCULAR ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC RECORDINGS DURING CYCLING

Abstract

Fine-wire electromyographic (fEMG) techniques are indicated for the study of distal lower limb muscle recruitment during cycling, but evidence to support the repeatability of fEMG recordings is contradictory. This study investigated the repeatability of fEMG recordings from tibialis anterior (TA), tibialis posterior (TP), peroneus longus (PL), gastrocnemius lateralis (GL) and soleus (SOL) during cycling. The repeatability of fEMG recordings normalised to maximum measured EMG amplitude was high, with mean coefficients of multiple correlation (CMC) ranging from .82 .15 (GL) to .89 .09 (TA). The repeatability of fEMG recordings increased with greater test-retest intervals (p < .008). Data normalised to maximal or submaximal contractions were less repeatable (p < .001). These findings support the use of fEMG techniques to investigate distal lower limb muscle recruitment during cycling.