ELECTROMYOGRAPHY DURING AQUATIC CYCLING IN DIFFERENT CADENCES: PILOT STUDY

Abstract

The effects of cadence and load on lower limb muscles activities using electromyography (EMG) are well documented in cycling literature (Baum and Li, 2003). They reported that increase of cadence displayed a non significant reduction of the EMG for Biceps Femoris (BF) and Vastus Lateralis (VL); however, with an increased load there was an increase in the EMG in both muscles when used Monarch cycle ergometer. They attributed this reduction of the EMG in relation to cadence to increase of inertial influence on pedal force. The aim of this study is to verify influence of cadences (50 and 65rpm) on lower limb muscles activities (BF and VL) using aquatic cycle ergometry (ACE).