ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC ACTIVITY OF THE Bicceps brachii AND Brachiorradialis MUSCLES UNDER INFLUENCE OF STATIC STRETCHING AFTER EXHAUSTIVE EXERCISES

Abstract

The aim of this work was to study the electric activity of the motor unit action potential of the biceps brachii and brachiorradialis muscles produced just after exhaustive exercise of forearm flexion, considering the influence of static stretching on this activity. Ten volunteers performed a series of exhaustive exercises with 80% maximum voluntary load using a double-pulley apparatus. The subjects were divided in experimental group that performed static stretching post-exercise and control group that did not perform any stretching. Electromyographic signals were captured by surface electrodes and recorded using a computerized electromyograph and an acquisition system of data (Alc-EMG). Statistically significant differences were not found for the electric activity of the studied muscles, with or without stretching post-exercise. The results suggest that once the effort stimulus to the muscle ceases, its electric activity returns at levels similar to resting position, with or without stretching. Thus, the muscular electric activity seems be not influenced by the static stretching following exhaustive exercise. UNITERMS: Electromyography, Uper limb muscles, Sretching, Ehaustive exercises.