Galileo Research Fact Sheet #96: Is muscle activity during Galileo Training related to different postures?

This study investigates the immediate effects of Galileo Training using different postures (hip tilted anterior/neutral/posterior) on the activation (EMG) of different muscle groups (from calf to neck).

The measurement was done by EMG signals where the frequency range of 50 to 300Hz was analyzed. The individuals stood in almost upright position with slightly flexed knees and EMG signals where recoded over a period of 10 seconds.

The results showed a significant increase of muscle activation at all postures. Nevertheless, the effects strongly depend on the used posture and frequency with increases of up to 2250% (a 100% value was defined as EMG activation at identical posture but without vibration).

This study proves what everyone can feel while on the Galileo when tilting the hip. However, it most probably even underestimates the increases due to Galileo Training since Ritzmann et.al (#GRFS32) showed that frequencies up to 30% and increasing amplitudes (pos. 3) can increase EMG even more. Furthermore Ritzmann et.al. also showed that the elimination of the training frequency (in this case 10 and 20Hz) is not advisable since every movement of the platform causes a stretch-reflex and therefore a significant signal component at the training frequency. Therefore, it can be expected that using higher frequencies, amplitudes and changing the posture even more to focus the Galileo effects on specific muscle groups as well as optimizing the analysis algorithms would most likely increase the measured muscle activation even more. 

Common - Muscle Activation (EMG)   
#GRFS96 #GRFS