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Examined the effects of unilateral concentric isokinetic leg extension training on peak torque and electromyographic (EMG) responses in trained and untrained limbs. Adult men participated in training and control groups. Overall, unilateral concentric isokinetic strength training induced strength increases in trained as well as untrained limbs. There was no significant change in EMG amplitude in trained or untrained limbs. (SM)

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of acute static stretching on torque and electromyography (EMG) in female athletes (ATHs) and nonathletes (NONATHs) using both normalized (NORM) and nonnormalized (NONNORM) data. Fifteen ATHs recruited from women's National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II varsity basketball and volleyball teams were paired to 14 NONATHs. Electromyography ([mu]V) was detected over the rectus femoris during isokinetic leg extensions at 60 and 300[degrees] x [s.sup.-1] before(PRE) and after (POST) static stretching. There was a significant main effect for torque (mean [+ or -] SD PRE = 81.9 [+ or -] 22.7 N x m; POST = 77.0 [+ or -] 21.9 N x m) and EMG amplitude (PRE = 767.6 [+ or -] 288.6 [micro]V; POST = 664.2 [+ or -] 219.3 [micro]V) for PRE compared to POST. For the NORM data, there was a significant decrease in torque for the NONATHs (mean [+ or -] SD PRE = 73 [+ or -] 12 N x m; POST = 67 [+ or -] 12 N x m) but no significant difference for the ATHs (mean [+ or -] SD PRE = 65 [+ or -] 11 N x m; POST = 66 [+ or -] 8 N x m). The NONNORM data indicated that both the ATHs and NONATHs displayed a stretching-induced decrease in torque that may be manifested in a decreased ability to activate the muscle. The NORM data revealed the NONATHs but not the ATHs were hindered in their ability to produce torque as a result of the stretching. Coaches and ATHs may want to carefully consider whether to include stretching in their precompetition routine. When reading the literature, the practitioner should consider the manner in which the data were calculated and analyzed (NORM or NONNORM) because it may affect the conclusions of the study. KEY WORDS normalization, isokinetic, concentric

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of acute low- and high-volume static and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching on 1-repetition maximum (1RM) bench press. Fifteen healthy male National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II football players (age: 19.9 [+ or -] 1.1 years; weight: 98.89 [+ or -] 13.39 kg; height: 184.2 [+ or -] 5.7 cm; body composition: 14.6 [+ or -] 7.4%; and 1RM bench press: 129.7 [+ or -] 3.3 kg) volunteered to participate in the study. Subjects completed 5 different stretching protocols integrated with a 1RM dynamic warm-up routine followed by 1RM testing in randomly assigned order. The protocols included (a) non-stretching (NS), (b) low-volume PNF stretching (LVPNFS), (c) high-volume PNF stretching (HVPNFS), (d) low-volume static stretching (LVSS), and (d) high-volume static stretching (HVSS). Two and 5 sets of stretching were completed for the low- and high-volume protocols, respectively. The stretching protocols targeted triceps and chest/shoulder muscle groups using 2 separate exercises. There were no significant differences in 1RM bench press performance (p > 0.05) among any of the stretching protocols NS (129.7 [+ or -] 3.3 kg), LVPNFS (128.9 [+ or -] 3.8 kg), HVPNFS (128.3 [+ or -] 3.7 kg), LVSS (129.7 [+ or -] 3.7 kg), and HVSS (128.2 [+ or -] 3.7 kg). We conclude that low-and high-volume PNF and static stretching have no significant acute effect on 1RM bench press in resistance-trained collegiate football players. This suggests that resistance-trained athletes can include either (a) a dynamic warm-up with no stretching or (b) a dynamic warm-up in concert with low- or high-volume static or PNF flexibility exercises before maximal upper body isotonic resistance-training lifts, if adequate rest is allowed before performance. KEY WORDS flexibility, muscular strength, 1-repetition maximum, trained athletes

The purpose of the study was to examine the potential for using the mechanomyographic (MMG) signal as a biofeedback method to enhance muscular relaxation and to improve performance during forearm flexion repetitions to fatigue. Twelve adult (mean [+ or -] SD; age: 22.0 [+ or -] 1.1 years) moderately trained subjects (weight: 82.3 [+ or -] 29.2 kg; height: 165.7 [+ or -] 49.0 cm) were instructed to relax the biceps brachii muscle using MMG biofeedback (BIO) provided by viewing a computer screen graphically displaying the MMG signal and then without using MMG biofeedback (NOBIO). Electromyographic (EMG) and MMG signals were detected midway over the biceps brachii during the relaxation protocol. In subsequent visits to the laboratory, subjects performed as many repetitions as possible at 85% of 1 repetition maximum with BIO and NOBIO using the seated preacher curl exercise. Two-way (biofeedback x gender) mixed factorial analyses of variance revealed significantly (p < 0.05) lower MMG (mean [+ or -] SEM; BIO = 0.6 [+ or -] 0.1 mV; NOBIO = 1.1 [+ or -] 0.2 mV) and EMG amplitudes (BIO = 6.6 [+ or -] 0.6 [micro]V; NOBIO = 9.4 [+ or -] 1.4 [micro]V) for BIO when subjects were instructed to relax the biceps brachii muscle. There was no significant difference in the number of forearm flexion repetitions performed for BIO (mean [+ or -] SD; 7.9 [+ or -] 0.4 reps) vs. NOBIO (8.1 [+ or -] 0.6 reps). The results of the present study revealed that using MMG as a biofeedback technique can enhance the development of muscle relaxation, but is not useful in delaying fatigue during forearm flexion repetitions. Our results may have been influenced by a relatively short training phase designed to teach subjects to use the MMG signal as a biofeedback method. Future studies are needed to determine whether MMG biofeedback can be used for other purposes. If MMG is found to be useful as a biofeedback method, it has some distinct practical advantages over EMG that the strength and conditioning athlete and professional may find appealing. KEY WORDS. monitoring, lateral vibrations, electromyography

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of hyperhydration on the electromyographic (EMG) and mechanomyographic (MMG) responses during isometric and isokinetic muscle actions of the biceps brachii. Eight (22.1 [+ or -] 1.8 years, 79.5 [+ or -] 22.8 kg) subjects were tested for maximal isometric, submaximal isometric, and maximal concentric isokinetic muscle strength in either a control (C) or hyperhydrated (H) state induced by glycerol ingestion while the EMG and MMG signals were recorded. Although fluid retention was significantly greater during the H protocol, the analyses indicated no change in torque, EMG amplitude, EMG mean power frequency (MPF), MMG amplitude, or MMG MPF with hyperhydration. These results indicated that glycerol-induced fluid retention does not affect the torque-producing capabilities of a muscle, the impulses (EMG) going to a muscle, or muscular vibrations (MMG). It has been suggested that EMG and MMG can be used as direct electrical/mechanical monitoring, which could be presented to trainers and athletes; however, before determining the utility of these signals, the MMG and EMG responses should be examined under a variety of conditions such as in the present study. KEY WORDS. hydration, electromyography, mechanomyography, strength, isokinetic

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of an acute static stretching bout of the biceps brachii on torque, electromyography (EMG), and mechanomyography (MMG) during concentric isokinetic muscle actions. Eighteen (men, n = 10; women, n = 8) adult subjects (M [+ or -] SD age = 22.7 [+ or -] 2.8 years; weight = 78.0 [+ or -] 17.0 kg; height = 177.9 [+ or -] 11.0 cm) performed maximal isokinetic (30 and 270[degrees] * [s.sup.-1]) forearm flexion strength testing on 2 occasions while EMG and MMG were recorded. Subjects were randomly assigned to stretching (STR) or nonstretching (NSTR) protocols before strength testing. Two-way ANOVAs with repeated measures revealed significantly (p [less than or equal to] 0.05) greater torque for NSTR (M [+ or -] SEM = 36.9 [+ or -] 3.3 N * m) vs. STR (35.2 [+ or -] 3.3 N * m), significantly greater MMG amplitude for STR vs. NSTR for 30[degrees] * [s.sup.-1] (STR = 93.5 [+ or -] 14.4 mV; NSTR = 63.1 [+ or -] 10.6 mV) and 270[degrees] * [s.sup.-1] (STR = 207.6 [+ or -] 35.6 mV; NSTR = 136.4 [+ or -] 31.7 mV), and no difference in EMG amplitude. These results indicate that a greater ability to produce torque without prior stretching is related to the musculotendinous stiffness of the muscle rather than the number of motor units activated. This suggests that performing activities that reduce muscle stiffness (such as stretching), may be detrimental to performance. Key Words: autogenic inhibition, musculotendinous stiffness, acute

This article examines the relationship between Siberian ginseng supplementation, athletic performance, and body fat utilization in trained male cyclists. Findings indicate that Siberian ginseng does not significantly influence cycling performance or steady-state fat utilization during endurance exercise.

An increase in the duration of workbout at each power output in a submaximal cycle ergometer test, called the physical working capacity at fatigue threshold PWC(sub FT), decreases the fatigue threshold. The mean PWC(sub FT) for four a minute workbout is less than that for a two minute workbout. However, this result does not warrant a change in the PWC(sub FT) test protocol because only two out of nine test subjects completed 60 minutes at PWC(sub FT4).