The purposes of this study were to compare the electromyographic activities from the rectus femoris, vastus medialis oblique portion, vastus medialis longitudinal portion, and vastus lateralis during straight leg raising (SLR) and quadriceps setting (QS) exercise and to determine which exercise is more effective to selectively strengthen the vastus medialis. Thirty two healthy subjects <19 men, 13 women) participated in the study. All participants performed SLR and QS exercises while electromyographic activity was recorded from EMG surface electrodes. Statistical analysis demonstrated significantly greater values for the vastus medialis oblique portion, vastus medialis longitudinal portion, and vastus lateralis activities during QS exercise than for those during SLR exercise. However, the rectus femoris muscle activity between SLR and QS exercises was not significantly different. The ratios of vastus lateralis to vastus medialis during SLR and QS exercise were not significantly different. These results show that QS exercise is more effective for strengthening the quadriceps muscle on the whole than the SLR exercise. As for selective methods of strengthening vastus medialis specifically, both SLR and QS exercises are useful.

Astragalus membranaceus is a well known oriental medicinal herb. The polysaccharides of the aboveground parts (AMA) and the radix (AMR) of A. membranaceus are the most important functional constituents. Methods and Results: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of AMA and AMR on the oxidative damage induced in the skeletal muscle of rats subjected to exhaustive exercise. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into exercise and non-exercise groups; in the groups receiving the test compounds, AMA and AMR were administered orally for 30 days. Skeletal muscle samples were collected from each rat after running to exhaustion on a treadmill to determine the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) and the concentation of malondialdehyde (MDA). The antioxidant enzyme activities of SOD and GSH-Px of skeletal muscle of AMA- and AMR-treated groups were significantly higher than those of the control and commercial sports drink (SPD)-treated groups in exhaustive exercise rats. In addition, MDA concentrations in the skeletal muscle of the AMA- and AMR-treated groups were significantly lower than those of the control and SPD-treated groups. In the present study, the effects of AMA and AMR on exercise endurance capacity were also evaluated in mice subjected to a swimming exercise test. AMA and AMR supplementation prolonged the swimming time of mice and enhanced exercise endurance capacity. AMA and AMR possess the ability to retard and lower the production of blood lactate, and prevent the decrease of serum blood glucose. Conclusions: These results showed that, AMR and AMA exerted beneficial effect in mice, increasing the activity of the antioxidant systems and inhibiting oxidative stress induced by exhaustive exercise. The compounds improved exercise performance and showed anti-fatigue effects against exhaustive exercise.

The purpose of this study was analysis of the muscle action in physical exercise in the rolling machine. The rolling machine moved by eletric power-driven was made to keep the constant cycle and size of rolling. The subjects of this study consist of 4 seaman(SM) and 4 landman (LM). The experiment analyzed the muscle power of lower and upper limbs by Intergrated Electromyogram(IEMG). The measurement was made on the ground, and 6 and 8 degrees of rolling separately. This study concludes as follows ; including analysis of IEMG of heavy exercise in two hands curl, a standstill walking and just standing. 1. IEMG of the lower limbs when standing. 1) In 6 degrees of rolling, for the landman(LM), vastus medialis m.(9.73), vastus lateralis m.(9.55), and rectus femores m.(8.73) acted more. As for the seaman(SM), tibialis anterior m.(5.38), biceps femores m.(5.05), and gastrocnemius m.(4.47) acted more. 2) In 8 degrees of rolling, in common, for both LM and SM, it were vastus medialis m.(11.20 and 8.97), vastus lateralis m.(16.20 and 4.63), and tibialis anterior m.(5.13 and 4.47). 3) It was showed that IEMG of LM was larger than that of SM. 2. IEMG of the lower limbs when walking. 1) On the ground, for the LM, gastrocnemius m.(7.08), vastus medialis m.(6.65), and vastus latralis m.(6.60) acted more. As for the SM, vastus lateralis m.(7.08), vastus medialis m.(6.58) and restus femores m.(5.10) acted more. 2) In both 8 and 6 degrees of rolling, vastus medials m.(14.50 and 11.98), vastus lateralis m.(10.10 and 14.10), and gastrocnemius m.(11.75 and 7.10) acted more in two groups. 3) It was showed that IEMG of LM was larger than that of SM. 3. IEMG of the lower limbs when heavy exercise(two hands curl). 1) On the ground, for the LM, vastus lateralis m.(21.68), vastus medialis m.(16.08), and rectus femores m.(14.08) acted more. As for the SM, tibialis anterior m.(16.08), vastus medialis m.(14.58), and vastus lateralis m.(8.78) acted more. 2) In 8 and 6 dgrees of rolling, it were vastus medialis m.(17.05 and 12.45), vastus lateralis m.(37.98 and 17.08), and tibialis anterior m.(19.83 and 13.20). 3) It was showed that IEMG of LM was larger than that of SM. 4. IEMG of the upper limbs when heavy exercise. 1) On the ground, the brachialis m.(44.30 and 17.80), and biceps brachii m.(13.40 and 25.10) acted more in two groups. 2) In both 6 and 8 degrees of rolling, the brachialis m.(37.60 and 24.35), and biceps brachii m.(11.38 and 7.97) acted more in two groups. 3) It was showed that IEMG of SM was larger than that of LM.