Publication: Electromyography (EMG), heart rate, and ratings of perceived exertion during incremental peak power output (PPO) of eccentric cycling
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Date
2024-07-12
Authors
Low, Ee Mun
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Abstract
This thesis aimed to investigate the correlations between Peak Power Output (PPO) levels and various physiological parameters during eccentric cycling. The study focused on analysing leg muscle activity, heart rate, and Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE) to determine the optimal PPO for favourable results during eccentric cycling. The research involved conducting experiments with six different subjects aged 20 to 25 years, analysing data using Microsoft Excel and Minitab, and utilizing Multi-objective Optimization (MOO) with Python to identify the most beneficial PPO level. The data collection took place over three sessions, each lasting 45 minutes, including experiment setup and subject warmup time, utilizing equipment such as the Lode Excalibur sport bike for PPO evaluation and the Cyclus 2 Eccentric Ergometer for eccentric cycling. A familiarization session was conducted ahead of the Eccentric Cycling session to let the subjects become familiar with this novel type of exercise. The results indicated insignificant differences in mean Electromyography (EMG) values among different leg muscles and PPO percentages. However, the Rectus Femoris muscle and 80% PPO were found to have the greatest impact on EMG values. Additionally, the study revealed that 40% PPO had the least effect on heart rate and RPE. The optimal PPO level that yielded the highest EMG, lowest RPE, and optimal heart rate was determined to be 80%. Despite the valuable insights gained from the study, limitations such as a small sample size of six participants and logistical constraints were acknowledged. These limitations may affect the generalizability and reliability of the findings, leading to potential Type II errors. Future research should aim to address these limitations by increasing the sample size and improving participant accessibility to enhance the study's statistical power and validity. Overall, this thesis contributes to understanding the relationship between PPO levels and physiological responses during eccentric cycling, highlighting the importance of optimizing PPO for enhanced muscle activation, reduced perceived exertion, and optimal cardiovascular response.