22nd Annual Student Research Conference
EMG Analysis of Muscle Activation in Cyclists at Shallow and Steep Seat Tube Angles
Brendan R. Zee-Cheng
Dr. Jeremy Houser, Faculty Mentor
The purpose of this study was to compare muscle activation at different seat tube angles (STA) to provide an explanation for why a steep STA improves overall performance in the bike/run portions of a triathlon. Surface EMG electrodes were placed on the vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, biceps femoris, and lateral gastrocnemius muscles. Subjects rode under two randomly ordered conditions of a cycle ergometer set at steep and shallow STA arrangements. After warming up to about 70% maximum heart rate, EMG data was collected for 10 complete revolutions. Using analysis software, an integrated value for muscle activation was calculated for the push phase (i.e. top to bottom of pedal stroke) of each of the 10 revolutions. Averaged data were analyzed using a paired sample t-test.
Keywords: EMG, bicycle, muscle activation, seat tube angle
Topic(s):Exercise Science
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 4-9
Location: PML
Time: 4:15