Selective activation of quadriceps muscle fibers according to bicycling rate

Abstract

Moving average electromyography (MA) of quadriceps muscle bellies has been recorded during bicycling at different rates (30–70 cycles/min) or forces (1–3 kg). For power increments (50–100%) achieved by increasing force at constant rate, MA during pedal downstroke always increased. For similar power increments achieved by increasing the rate at constant force, MA did not increase (37% of cases), increased less (37%), or increased similarly (26%). Investigations by others on the rat suggest that the lack of increase of MA despite power increment was not compensated by other muscle activity; hence it indicates a shift from slow to fast fibers, which provide greater power per unit stimulus. Smaller increase of MA with increasing rate rather than force at isopower could depend on this shift or on muscle properties, if operating on ascending limb of power-velocity curve. This, however, does not seem the case for slow fibers, which should develop peak power at about 25 cycles/min. Hence, fibers of quadriceps muscle of humans seem selectively activated according to movement speed, as previously found in inspiratory muscles of rabbits.