Is the VO2 slow component in heavy arm-cranking exercise associated with recruitment of type II muscle fibers as assessed by an increase in surface EMG?

The recruitment of additional type II muscle fibers is one mechanism often suggested to be responsible for the slow component of oxygen uptake (VO2 (SC)). We hypothesized that surface electromyogram (EMG) of the biceps brachii, triceps brachii, anterior deltoid, and infraspinatus muscles could be related to the VO2 (SC) amplitude during arm-cranking exercises above ventilatory threshold (VT). Eight healthy subjects performed transitions from rest to 6-min heavy exercise at a constant power output of approximately 40% between VT and peak VO2. A 2-component exponential model was used to fit the VO2 response. EMG were recorded the last 15 s of each minute to obtain root mean square (RMS) and mean power frequency (MPF). Mean EMG responses for RMS and MPF were calculated by averaging EMG responses of the 4 muscles. The VO2 (SC) amplitude was of 530 +/- 166 mL/min and occurred after 134 +/- 31 s of exercise onset. Significant correlations were found for most of the subjects between EMG parameters and the VO2 SC amplitude as determined between the 2nd and the 6th minute. For all muscles, RMS values significantly increased over time during the VO2 (SC), whereas MPF decreased significantly. These results suggest a relation between the recruitment of additional type II muscle fibers and the VO2 (SC) in arm-cranking exercises.