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Int J Sports Med 2008; 29(10): 823-832
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1038411
Training & Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Auxiliary Muscles and Slow Component during Rowing

S. Demarie1 , V. Quaresima2 , M. Ferrari2 , V. Billat3 , P. Sbriccoli1 , M. Faina4
  • 1Department of Human Movement and Sport Sciences, University Institute for Movement Sciences, Rome, Italy
  • 2Department of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy
  • 3Laboratoire LEPHE, University of Evry, Evry, France
  • 4Sport Science Unit, Institute of Medicine and Science of Sport, CONI Servizi S. p. A., Rome, Italy
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision January 30, 2008

Publication Date:
09 April 2008 (online)

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of the auxiliary muscles, utilized to sustain the subject's position on the ergometer, to the oxygen uptake slow component phenomenon. Three tests were performed at the same severe relative intensity on a rowing ergometer: a standard rowing exercise test, a rowing exercise performed with the arms and one performed with the legs only. During the three exercise modalities, oxygen uptake, local oxyhemoglobin saturation and surface electromyography signals of the trapezius and vastus lateralis muscles were measured. The slow component amplitude, in absolute values, resulted statistically lower for rowing (343.9 ml · min−1) than for arms (795.6 ml · min−1) and legs (695.8 ml · min−1) exercise modes. The same result was found when the slow component amplitude was calculated as percentage of V˙O2peak (7.1 % for rowing; 17.2 % for arms; 17.3 % for legs). The lower slow component amplitude measured for the rowing exercise mode with respect to both arms and legs modes, demonstrates that the auxiliary muscles involved in the exercise contribute to the increasing energetic cost due to the slow component.

Key words

oxygen uptake kinetics - muscle oxygenation - muscle activation

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Dr. Sabrina Demarie

Department of Human Movement and Sport Sciences
University Institute for Movement Sciences

Piazza Lauro de Bosis 15

00194 Rome

Italy

Phone: + 39 06 36 73 32 60

Fax: + 39 06 36 73 33 48

Email: sabrina.demarie@iusm.it