EMG of muscle fibre activation

[somewhatgifted]

I borrowed this from another forum SSB, some good info, ive found other info that is a bit contradictory but useful nonetheless.





Training Article of the Week


-Electromyographical Research and Maximum Muscle Fiber Stimulation
(Eric Knight B.A. Hon. Kinesiology, CPT)

Electromyographical (EMG) Research is an essential research tool allowing
physiologists to determine the role of muscles during specific movements. EMG is
a scientific method of measuring the level of excitation. This is done by
placing electrodes over your body and recording the level of muscle activity
induced by an exercise. A study was conducted to find which exercises cause the
greatest amount of activity within each muscle group and, as a consequence,
determine which exercises will produce the greatest gains in mass and strength.
This study was conducted by Tudor O. Bompa, PhD & Lorenzo J. Cornacchia. Both
men and women were used in the sudy and all subjects had at least two years
experience with resistance training.

Here are the results of that study:
(100% would signify maximum muscle fiber stimulation)

Pectoralis Major
Decline dumbbell bench press ----------------93%
Decline bench press, Olympic bar(OB)---------89
Push-ups between benches --------------------88
Flat dumbbell bench press -------------------87
Flat bench press (OB) -----------------------85
Flat dumbbell flyes --------------------------84

Pectoralis Minor
Incline dumbbell bench press ----------------91%
Incline bench press (OB) --------------------85
Incline dumbbell flyes -----------------------83
Incline bench press (smith machine) ---------81

Medial Deltoids
Incline dumbbell (db) side laterals ----- 66%
Standing db side laterals -------63
Seated db side laterals -----62
Cable side laterals -----47

Posterior Deltoids
Standing db bent laterals ----- 85%
Seated db bent laterals -----83
Standing cable bent laterals -----77

Anterior Deltoids
Seated front db press -----79%
Standing front db raises -----73
Seated front barbell press -----61

Biceps brachii (long head)
Preacher curls (Ob) -------------------- 90%
Incline seated Db curls (alternate) ------ 88
Standing biceps curls (Ob/narrow grip)--- 86
Standing Db curls (alternate) ----------- 84
Concentration Db curls ------------------ 80
Standing curls (Ob/wide grip)------------ 63
Standing E-Z curls (wide grip) ----------- 61

Triceps brachii (outer head)
Decline extensions (Ob) ------------------ 92%
Triceps pressdowns (angled bar) ----------- 90
Dips with a bench --------------------------87
One-arm cable extensions (reverse grip) - 85
Overhead rope extensions ------------------ 85
Seated one-arm Db extensions (neutral grip)- 82
Close-grip bench press (Ob) --------------- 72

Latissimus dorsi (back)
Bent-over Bb rows ---------------------------93%
One-arm Db rows -----------------------------91
T-bar rows ----------------------------------89
Lat pulldowns to the front ------------------86
Seated pulley rows --------------------------83

Rectus femoris (quads)
Safety squats (90 degree angle, shoulder width stance) ----88%
seated leg extensions (toes straight) -------86
Hack squats (90 degree angle, shoulder width stance) ----78
Leg press (110 degree angle) ----------------76
Smith machine (90 degree angle, shoulder width stance) ----60

Biceps femoris (hamsring)
Standing leg curls --------------------------82%
Lying leg curls -----------------------------71
Seated leg curls ----------------------------58
Modified hamstring deads --------------------56

Semitendinosus (inner hamstring)
Seated leg curls ----------------------------88
Standing leg curls --------------------------79
Lying leg curls -----------------------------70
Modified hamstring deads --------------------63

Gastrocnemius (calf muscle)
Donkey raises -------------------------------80
Standing one-leg raises ---------------------79
Standing two-leg raises ---------------------68
Seated raises -------------------------------61

 

[guyfromkop2]

i've got a study for you, you ready for it?


eat+lift=grow

 

[thesinner]

interesting.

good post

 

[somewhatgifted]

Oddly this pretty much sums up the routines i do anyway but justifies my mind muscle connection.

 

[thesinner]

Oddly this pretty much sums up the routines i do anyway but justifies my mind muscle connection.

You could pretty much guess which one's are going to have the most, but it's helpful to be able to put a number behind it.

Not to mention, just because there's a great recruition, doesn't mean that it's a great mass-builder (see deadlifts). Still, it's nice, and it gives me an answer for the next time my training partner asks, "why are we doing this exercise?"