Electromyographic validation of the muscles deltoid (anterior portion) and pectoralis major (clavicular portion) in military press exercises with open grip.

It was analized the deltoid muscle anterior portion and the pectoralis major clavicular portion in 24 male volunteers using a two-channel electromyograph TECA TE 4, and Hewllet Packard surface electrodes, in 4 modalities of military press exercises with open grip. The results showed high inactivity for PMC in almost all the modalities while DA developed very high levels of action potentials in all the modalities assessed.

Electromyographic validation of the deltoideus (anterior portion) and pectoralis major (clavicular portion) muscles in pull-over exercises.

The electromyographic activity of the deltoideus (anterior portion) and pectoralis major (clavicular portion) muscles was analyzed in 24 male volunteers in two different modalities of pull-over exercises. The PMC activity varied from weak to moderate in both modalities, while the DA activity was moderate in the pull-over and strong in the pull-over with bent arms exercises.

Electromyographic analysis of the arm muscles in "back support" exercises.

This study aims at quantifying through electromyography the actions of the biceps brachii-BB (long head), triceps brachii-TB (long head) and deltoideus-DA (clavicular portion) muscles, during the going (G) and return (R) phases in "back support" exercises. Surface electrodes were placed at the muscles, according to DELAGI (1981). It was used a specific software and a A/D plate to take the signals. After being collected, the records were processed resulting in efficient values (RMS), were normalized by maximum isometric contraction (MVIC = 100%) and statistically analysed using the Friedman, DSM and Wilcox non-parametric tests. All the muscles presented electromyographic activity of the movements. The triceps brachii was the muscle with higher activity in both phases of the movement. It was concluded that the exercise is indicated for the arm muscle strength development.

Electromyographic analysis of the pectoralis major and deltoideus anterior in the inclined "flying" exercise with loads.

Due to a shortage of textbooks with specific data on muscular activity concerning physical conditioning and sports, we analysed electromyographically the muscles pectoralis major and deltoideus anterior, bilaterally, in inclined "flying" exercises, during the concentric and eccentric phases, with external loads of 25, 50, 75 and 100% of the maximum load. The electromyographic analysis was performed in eleven male volunteers with MEDI-TRACE-200 surface electrodes connected to a six-channel biologic signal acquisition module coupled to a PC/AT computer. The electromyographic signals were processed and the obtained effective values were normalized through maximum voluntary isometric contraction. Statistically, the results showed that all the muscles studied presented significant differences between the concentric and the eccentric phases, with higher electromyographic activity during the concentric phase. By analysing the different loads for each muscle in both phases, significant electromyographic activity was observed for all muscles. When the effect of each load on each muscle during the concentric phase was analysed, it was noticed that the muscles on the left were more active than those on the right side, while in the eccentric phase the muscles had different behavior.

Electromyographic validation of the pectoralis major and deltoideus anterior muscles in inverted "flying" exercises with loads.

Inverted 'flying" exercise with external loads of 25, 50, 75 and 100% of each individual maximum load in the pectoralis major and deltoideus anterior muscles was electromyographically analyzed in eleven male volunteers, using surface electrodes MEDI-TRACE-200 connected to a biological signals acquisition module coupled to a PC/AT computer. Electromyographic signals were processed and the effective values obtained were standardized through maximum voluntary isometric contraction. When the concentric phase of each muscle with the same load was statistically compared with the eccentric phase, it was observed that for all loads all the muscles presented significant electromyographic difference, and that the concentric phase was always higher. By analyzing the different loads for each muscle, it was noticed that in the concentric phase all the muscles presented significant electromyographic activity, being it higher with maximum load. When the effect of each load on different muscle in the concentric and eccentric phases was analyzed, the muscles presented a distinct activity profile.

The assessment of Raynaud's phenomenon using a radiation thermometer and a mild cold (20 degrees C) stress test.

Digital skin temperature was monitored using a radiation thermometer in 27 normal volunteers and in 24 patients with Raynaud's phenomenon before and after the application of a mild cold stress (20 degrees C for 1 minute). The test was performed in standardized environmental conditions and repeated after the ingestion of alcohol (30 mls of 25% ethyl alcohol). Three types of response were identified: "Normal" rewarming curves before alcohol in 25 of 27 volunteers and in one patient. "Abnormal" rewarming curves unaffected by alcohol in 18 patients. "Abnormal" rewarming curves normalized by alcohol in the 2 remaining volunteers and in 5 patients. This simple, practical, painless and noninvasive test may be of value in the objective assessment of the severity of Raynaud's phenomenon and in the evaluation of the effect of therapy.

The value of segmental pressure measurement in the assessment of peripheral vascular disease.

In 60 patients with symptomatic peripheral vascular disease a study was performed to evaluate the reliability of segmental pressure measurement in detecting and localizing vascular lesions. Five groups of limbs with different pressure patterns were identified: normals, distals disease (diabetics), aorto-iliac disease, aorto-iliac and superficial femoral disease, superficial femoral and distal disease. The comparison with angiography showed the high efficacy of this method (when combined with Doppler study of the arteries) to localize and quantify the lesions. The combination with femoral intraarterial pressure measurement allows to predict exactly the segmental pressure after segmental vascular reconstructions. It is concluded that segmental pressure measurement (with the described technique) selects patients for angiography and surgery and can predict the outcome of vascular reconstruction.

Participation of the deltoid (anterior portion) and pectoralis major (clavicular portion) muscles in different modalities of supine and frontal elevation exercises with different grips.

The muscles deltoid-anterior portion (DA) and pectoralis major-clavicular portion (PMC) were analysed to establish the muscular behavior and intensity patterns, as well to evaluate the connected participation of these muscles during supine and frontal elevation exercises. Twenty-four male volunteers were examined using a 2-channel TECA TE4 electromyograph and Hewlett Packard surface electrodes. Our results showed low levels of activity to PMC in frontal elevation exercises, whereas to DA the levels were very high. In the supine exercise, the action potential levels developed by the PMC were always lower than those presented by DA, however, with action simultaneity. Some suggestions to the use of the tested exercises are presented.

Electromyographic validation of basic exercises for physical conditioning programmes. IV. Analysis of the deltoid muscle (anterior portion) and pectoralis major muscle (clavicular portion) in frontal-lateral cross, dumbbells exercises.

The electromyographic activity of the shoulder muscles deltoid--anterior portion (DA) and pectoralis major--clavicular portion (PMC) was tested on 24 male volunteers using a 2 channel TECA TE4 electromyograph and Hewlett Packard surface electrodes during the execution of four different modalities of frontal-lateral cross, dumbbells exercises. The results showed that all of the tested exercises developed high levels of action potential for both muscles. So, we justify the indication of all of them for physical fitness programmes for DA and PMC. Some suggestions to the use of the tested exercises are presented.

Electromyographic validation of basic exercises for physical conditioning programmes. V. The comparison of the response in the deltoid muscle (anterior portion) and the pectoralis major muscle (clavicular portion) determined by the frontal-lateral cross, dumbbells and the rowing exercises.

The action potential level for shoulder muscles deltoid-anterior portion (DA) and pectoralis major-clavicular portion (PMC) determined by four different modalities of execution of rowing exercises, each one with two different grips, was recorded. These were compared with the action potential level determined for the same muscles by four different modalities of execution of the frontal-lateral cross, dumbbells exercises. Twenty-four male volunteers were examined using a 2 channel TECA TE4 electromyograph and Hewlett Packard surface electrodes. The statistic analysis showed significant (p < 0.05) superiority for all the frontal-lateral cross, dumbbells exercises in comparison to all rowing exercises for the PMC, for the DA this generalized supremacy was not observed.

Electromyographic study of the trapezius (pars superior) and serratus anterior (pars inferior) muscles in free movements of the shoulder.

The trapezius (pars superior) and serratus anterior (pars inferior) muscles were analyzed in 25 adult volunteers from both sexes with a 2-channel TECA TE4 electromyograph with single coaxial needle electrodes. It was observed that in elevation and lowering of the shoulders, the trapezius shows preponderant activity. During retraction, both muscles are inactive, and during protraction, only the serratus anterior is inactive.

Electromyographic validation of basic exercises for physical conditioning programmes. I. Analysis of the deltoid muscle (anterior portion) and pectoralis major muscle (clavicular portion) in rowing exercises with middle grip.

The electromyographic activity of the shoulder muscles Deltoid--anterior portion (DA) and Pectoralis major--clavicular portion (PMC) was tested on 24 male volunteers using a 2 channel TECA TE4 electromyograph and Hewlett Packard surface electrodes during the execution of four different modalities of rowing exercises with middle grip. The results showed that rowing exercises are not appropriate for physical fitness programmes for PMC but some of them are significantly useful for DA. The authors present some suggestions to the use of the tested exercises.

Electromyographic validation of basic exercises for physical conditioning programmes. II. Analysis of the deltoid muscle (anterior portion) and pectoralis major muscle (clavicular portion) in rowing exercises with closed grip.

The electromyographic activity of the shoulder muscles deltoid-anterior portion (DA) and pectoralis major-clavicular portion (PMC) was tested on 24 male volunteers using a 2 channel TECA TE4 electromyograph and Hewlett Packard surface electrodes during the execution of three different modalities of rowing exercises with closed grip. All rowing exercises were inefficient to determine action potential levels in the PMC but two of them were extremely efficient to the DA: the upright rowing exercise and the sitting rowing exercise. Some suggestions to the use of the tested exercises are presented by the authors.

Electromyographic validation of basic exercises for physical conditioning programmes. III. Influence of the grip in the capacity of the rowing exercises in determining action potential levels for the deltoid and the pectoralis major muscle.

The electromyographic activity of the shoulder muscles Deltoid--anterior portion (DA) and Pectoralis major--clavicular portion (PMC) was tested on 24 male volunteers using a 2 channel TECA TE4 electromyograph and Hewlett Packard surface electrodes during the execution of three different modalities of rowing exercises comparing middle grip with closed grip. Statistical comparisons showed that in both PMC and DA closed grip determined muscular solicitation higher than middlegrip excepting sitting rowing. The authors present some suggestions to the use of the tested exercises.

Electromyographic validation of the trapezius and serratus anterior muscles in rowing exercises with middle grip.

Because the lack of textbooks based on electromyographic studies in the area of exercises for physical conditioning, the authors proposed to study the trapezius (upper portion) (TS) and the serratus anterior (lower portion) (SI) muscles during the execution of four different modalities of rowing exercises with middle grip in 24 male volunteers, 18 to 25 years old. For the recordings, it was used a two-channel TECA TE 4 electromyograph and Hewlett Packard surface electrodes. For the movements, a supine bench and a 120 cm-long bar made of low weight wood were used. The results showed that TS acted significantly in upright, sitting and inclined rowing, justifying its inclusion in physical conditioning programmes, while SI, in spite of acting preferentially in upright and sitting rowing, presented activity levels which do not justify its inclusion.

Electromyographic validation of the trapezius and serratus anterior muscles in rowing exercises with closed grip.

Because the lack of specialized textbooks, the select of basic exercises for physical conditioning programmes is based on empirical knowledge. This fact led the authors to propose the study on electromyographic activity of the trapezius (upper portion) (TS) and the serratus anterior (lower portion) (SI) muscles in rowing exercises with closed grip in three different modalities. The tests were carried out with 24 male volunteers, 18 to 25 years old, by using a two-channel TECA TE 4 electromyograph and Hewlett Packard surface electrodes. For exercises execution, a long bar made of light wood was used. TS acted significantly in the three different modalities, that is, upright, sitting and bent over, while SI acted preferentially in upright and sitting rowing exercises, justifying their inclusion as basic exercises in physical conditioning programmes.

Electromyographic validation of the trapezius and serratus anterior muscles in rowing exercises with middle and closed grip.

Because the lack of specialized textbooks on the select and indication of basic exercises for physical conditioning programmes, an electromyographic study of the trapezius (upper portion) (TS) and the serratus anterior (lower portion) (SI) muscles in rowing exercises with middle and closed grip in three different modalities, upright, sitting and bent over was performed. The tests were carried out with 24 male volunteers, 18 to 25 years old, by using a two-channel TECA TE 4 electromyograph and Hewlett Packard surface electrodes. For exercises execution, a supine bench, a straight board and a 1,20 m-long bar made of light wood were used. The results showed that TS acted preferentially with closed grip sitting and bent over modalities, and presented no difference among the grips for upright rowing. SI acted preferentially with closed grip in all modalities, however, with activity levels that do not justify its indication for physical conditioning programmes.

Electromyographic validation of the trapezius and serratus anterior muscles in the rowing and frontal-lateral cross, dumbbells exercises.

The trapezius and serratus anterior muscles were studied in four modalities of rowing exercises executed with two grips, middle and closed, in comparison with the four different modalities of frontal-lateral cross, dumbbells exercise. It was used 24 male volunteers, 18 to 25 years old using a 2-channel TECA TE 4 electromyograph and Hewlett Packard surface electrodes. The results showed that TS acted in a higher significant way in all the modalities of rowing than in the supine lateral raise, inclined supine lateral raise and reverse supine lateral raise, dumbbells exercices, and demonstrated no standing frontal-lateral cross, dumbbells. The SI acted more significantly difference among all the execution modalities of rowing and the inclined supine lateral raise, dumbbells exercises than in all the rowing exercises; even though the activity levels do not make us suggest them as an excellent group of exercises for the development of this muscle.

Electromyographic validation of the trapezius and serratus anterior muscles in military press exercises with open grip.

It was studied the trapezius muscle and serratus anterior muscle in 24 male volunteers using a 2-channel TECA TE 4 electromyograph and Hewlett Packard surface electrodes, during the execution of four different modalities of military press exercises with open grip. The results showed that TS acted significantly in the modalities standing and sitting press behind neck, while SI acted in all the modalities, i.e., standing and sitting press behind neck and forward, justifying their inclusion as basic exercises for physical conditioning programmes.

Electromyographic validation of the trapezius and serratus anterior muscles in military press exercises with open and middle grip.

Electromyographic activity of the trapezius muscle and serratus anterior muscle was analysed in 4 different modalities of military press exercises, each of them with 2 grips: open and middle. It was analyzed 24 male volunteers using a 2-channel TECA TE 4 electromyograph and Hewlett Packard surface electrodes. The TS and SI muscles acted with high and very high activity in all the modalities of military press exercises. Statistically, they did not show significative difference in the performance of the exercises with open and middle grip, justifying the inclusion of this group of exercises with both grips for the physical conditioning programmes.