THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT EXTERNAL ELASTIC COMPRESSION ON MUSCLE STRENGTH, FATIGUE, EMG AND MMG ACTIVITY

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to quantify the effects of three different compression conditions on (a) performance of muscle strength/power and fatigue in lower extremity, and (b) the responses of electromyography (EMG) and mechanomyography (MMG) of rectus femoris (RF) under repeated concentric muscle actions. All subjects (N=12) performed maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) and consecutive, maximal isokinetic knee extension movements at 60°/s & 300°/s velocities with three different compression conditions. The results indicated that local elastic compression of lower extremity, while not significant in improving isokinetic strength in short period, may have a positive effect on fatigue by helping maintain long-term force production through altering muscle activity in high-velocity of locomotion.