Abstract
[Objective] The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of different loading methods and loads on muscle activities. [Method] Muscle activities of 15 healthy female subjects are evaluated at the elbow flexion angle of 90 degrees. Forces applied were set as 30%, 50% and 70% of the maximum voluntary contraction of the biceps brachii muscle. Two methods, “self-selection”and “selection by others”, were used for application of force. In the “self-selection”method the subject his/herself adjustedtheforcetothetarget value while viewing the screen displayed, and in the “selection by others”method the examiner adjusted the force. [Results] Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significant main effects of the weight loads and loading modes. Higher level of muscle activities were observed in the “self-selection”mode than in the “selectionbyothers”mode,and, in both weight loading modes, muscle activities increased as the weight load is gradually increased. [Conclusion] The results suggests that the level of load weight being equal,the “self-selection”loading mode led to higher level muscle activities than “selection by others”mode.
