The Influence of External Elastic Compression on the Activity of Track and Field Athletes

In order to quantify the effects of external compression on the muscular strength, fatigue, and activity through electromyography (EMG) and mechanomyography (MMG) during isokinetic muscle actions. 66.4 N and 85.8 N tension-length curves (used as moderate and high compression, respectively) were obtained with standard weights through a force transducer. All subjects (n = 12) performed 5 seconds of MVCs and 25 isokinetic knee extensions at 60o s-1 & 300o s- 1 with the two different compressions and without compression. The signals for strength production, EMG, and MMG amplitude (RMS) were collected simultaneously. No significant differences were found among three compressions for strength production; while there was a significant decrescence in the ratio of torque and overall rmsEMG (P< 0.05) during performing isokinetic knee extensions at 60===?=== s-1 & 300===?=== s-1, comparing to the none compression. Local elastic compression on lower extremity did not significantly improve isokinetic strength in a short period of time, but did positively affect on muscular fatigue by helping maintain long-term force production through recruiting lesser motor units during movements