Vascular restriction decreases EMG regularity during walking

Prior research has found that the level of regularity in the output of numerous physiological systems is lowest in healthy young adults and higher in groups such as the elderly and those with various diseases. Vascular restriction has been found to stimulate exercise induced responses, including greater muscle activation, hypertrophy and increased strength. However, the time-dependent properties of muscular activation with vascular restriction have not previously been examined. In the present study participants (N = 9) performed two 10 minute bouts of treadmill walking with and without vascular restriction while surface EMG was used to examine the level of activation of the vastus lateralis. Regularity was found to increase over bouts of exercise. A significant vascular restriction × bout × minute interaction in EMG regularity also occurred, with vascular restriction leading to a slower increase in regularity than without vascular restriction. These results suggest that, in addition to previously identified effects, vascular restriction decreases the regularity of muscular activation patterns during walking.

► Muscle activation regularity increased over the course of exercise. ► Vascular restriction led to greater muscle activation. ► Vascular restriction led to lower regularity in the activation of vastus lateralis.