NEUROMUSCULAR ACTIVITY DURING THE SQUAT EXERCISE ON AN UNSTABLE PLATFORM

Ano: 2009 | Volume: 3 | Número: 2

Autores: Alex Souto Maior, Roberto Simão, Belmiro Freitas de Salles, Humberto Miranda, Pablo Brando Costa

Palavras-chave: electromyography, muscle strength, weight lifting

Resumo Inglês:

MAIOR, A. S.; SIMÃO, R.; SALLES, B. F.; MIRANDA, H.; COSTA, P. B. Neuromuscular activity during the
squat exercise on an unstable platform. Brazilian Journal Biomotricity, v. 3, n. 2, p. 121-129, 2009. The
purpose of this study was to compare the muscular activity of the quadriceps muscles [vastus lateralis (VL),
vastus medialis (VM) and rectus femoris (RF)] through surface electromyography (EMG) during the squat
exercise with and without the use of an unstable platform (UP). Twenty males (25 ± 3 yrs; 180 ± 5.2 cm; 80 ±
3.2 kg; 24.2 ± 1.6 Kg.m-2) with at least 12 months of experience in resistance training volunteered for the
study. Following a specific warm up of two sets of fifteen repetitions (light and moderate load), EMG
measurements was obtained during the two conditions: maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) on a stable
surface and another MVC on an unstable platform. Three-minute rest intervals between the conditions were
allowed. The Wilcoxon test revealed significantly greater (p < 0.05) muscle activation of the quadriceps
muscles during the squat exercise on the UP (VL = 21%; RF= 18%; VM = 16%). The results of this study
revealed the UP may be incorporated in some periods of resistance training to increase the activity of the
quadriceps muscle.