"EMG RATINGS" OF BEST EXERCISES

[Tough Old Man]

Here is a link found by a gentleman on another forum, http://www.gk22.com/articles/1_iemg.shtml. I ask that you look at it. After studying it I would like to here from the experienced bodybuilders. If you where to start a new training program, Lets say using two different exercises for each body part, Would you take the two from the top of the list in that body part category and use them?

 

[Lord Denning]

I only took a quick look at the link...and well when deciding which exercises you want to include in your routine you need to think about variation as well as the degree of stimulation of the muscle you are working. For example for pecs, it would IMO not be helpful if you did decline dd press as well as decline barbell press since this will stimulate the same area of the pecs, albeit one exercise would stimulate more muscle fibres than the other (dd and barbell respectively).
Instead do decline dd press and maybe incline dd press (working more of the upper region of the pecs). To conclude, it is useful to consider EMG rating, but to solely rely on them when building a routine would not allow you to exploit your full potential for building muscle.

 

[Yanick]

For example for pecs, it would IMO not be helpful if you did decline dd press as well as decline barbell press since this will stimulate the same area of the pecs, albeit one exercise would stimulate more muscle fibres than the other (dd and barbell respectively).
Instead do decline dd press and maybe incline dd press (working more of the upper region of the pecs).

uh oh!

 

[Duncans Donuts]

 

[P-funk]

uh oh!

yan's first post in how many months?? LMAO.....God bless him.

 

[gr81]

^ ha ha

 

[Yanick]

yan's first post in how many months?? LMAO.....God bless him.

and every time i'm making a comeback you're there to make fun of me!

 

[P-funk]

and every time i'm making a comeback you're there to make fun of me!

someones got to do it and you wont listen to your borther so he gave me the right to woop your ass.

 

[Yanick]

someones got to do it and you wont listen to your borther so he gave me the right to woop your ass.

And, to make this thread slight informative lets just say that no one should ever make a program that is solely based on EMG ratings.

 

[P-funk]

And, to make this thread slight informative lets just say that no one should ever make a program that is solely based on EMG ratings.

Also, to add to that I always wonder when they do an EMG test what kind of load they are using. More importantly what kind of intensity they are using in relation to the testes (hehe...I know i am immature) 1RM. If the load is to light I think that some muscles are less resposive to others, than if they were testing at something like 95-100% of the 1RM, which would show a greater amount of muscle activation.

 

[pmech]

Lets go back to the more important part of Lord Dennings statement

For example for pecs, it would IMO not be helpful if you did decline dd press as well as decline barbell press since this will stimulate the same area of the pecs, albeit one exercise would stimulate more muscle fibres than the other (dd and barbell respectively).
Instead do decline dd press and maybe incline dd press (working more of the upper region of the pecs).

 

[Lord Denning]

 

[Mudge]

Also, to add to that I always wonder when they do an EMG test what kind of load they are using. More importantly what kind of intensity they are using in relation to the testes (hehe...I know i am immature) 1RM. If the load is to light I think that some muscles are less resposive to others, than if they were testing at something like 95-100% of the 1RM, which would show a greater amount of muscle activation.

Good point, because dont they say often that only 10% or so of fibers are activated much of the time? Much of training seems to be CNS related, not just muscle itself, training the body to become forced to use more fibers during the training. Since we see what people are capable of in FORCED situations (tipping a helicoptor off a loved one etc).

 

[pmech]

Lord Denning, nothing it was another thread that got of control.

 

[gopro]

GP is a believer in the merits of EMG studies. No, they are not the Holy Grail of training, but they offer valuable and applicable insights.

 

[pumpthatiron]

should i use this to set up a routine?

 

[Saturday Fever]

I want someone to get an understanding of how an EMG works and then apply it to these "articles." And then come back and reply whether or not you think they hold much merit.

 

[gopro]

I want someone to get an understanding of how an EMG works and then apply it to these "articles." And then come back and reply whether or not you think they hold much merit.

And I want you to make room for ANYTHING outdside of Westside training and the opinions of the few "experts" that you believe in. You just may be THE most narrow thinking "well-educated" person I have ever come across in the iron game.

 

[pumpthatiron]

what's westside training?

 

[Mudge]

http://www.westside-barbell.com

 

[camarosuper6]

When you train in California.

LOL



Oh man.. I crack myself up.

 

[Saturday Fever]

And I want you to make room for ANYTHING outdside of Westside training and the opinions of the few "experts" that you believe in. You just may be THE most narrow thinking "well-educated" person I have ever come across in the iron game.

What does anything in this thread have to do with Westside and/or what "trainers" I trust? This is about EMG and the faith people put in a test they don't even begin to understand.

This is simple science. I challenged people to learn what an EMG is and what is happening when an EMG is being done. Then combine that information with what we know about muscles and how they contract and how those contractions are based on electrical signals sent from the brain.

Then I want someone to explain how an EMG is anywhere near useful in the capacity these articles are talking about.

 

[gopro]

What does anything in this thread have to do with Westside and/or what "trainers" I trust? This is about EMG and the faith people put in a test they don't even begin to understand.

This is simple science. I challenged people to learn what an EMG is and what is happening when an EMG is being done. Then combine that information with what we know about muscles and how they contract and how those contractions are based on electrical signals sent from the brain.

Then I want someone to explain how an EMG is anywhere near useful in the capacity these articles are talking about.

I know what you said, and I know what the point (your point) of you saying it was. Its your roundabout method of saying that EMG studies have no merit in training, are useless, and have no applications to training. You are also trying to drive the point home that you cannot isolate portions of a muscle.

My point is that you believe only what you have been taught by a few individuals, in addition to the studies that YOU believe in, and the textbooks that YOU believe have merit.

I know exactly how EMG studies are done, and yes, I believe they are applicable to how we can isolate portions of some muscles.

 

[Saturday Fever]

I know exactly how EMG studies are done, and yes, I believe they are applicable to how we can isolate portions of some muscles.

OK. How?

Someone please speak to HOW. How can a small, isolated, electrical signal, intended to locate spasms prove anything in the realm of what your brain is able to do via its electrical signals to the muscle?

I mean, we haven't even gone into receptors yet, I just want to know how.

 

[pumpthatiron]

ya saturday fever, you're a rook... tell em GP

 

[Saturday Fever]

I'd ask you to explain, but you OBVIOUSLY don't know.

 

[gr81]

ya saturday fever, you're a rook... tell em GP

whats this supposed to mean. ya know for all the GP ass kissing that goes on people could actually do some research for themselves and form a real opinion thats reputable instead of hiding behind what others say, regurgitating their words to pathetic levels. I have respect for Both GP and SF, and I not not commenting on who's right or wrong, but if you are gonna comment, have some ground to do it from. comments like this or foolish. He is obviously not a rook, and you obvisouly are so show some fuccin respect..

 

[ikam]

pwned

 

[gopro]

ya saturday fever, you're a rook... tell em GP

Well thanks pump, but even I will admit that SNF is NO rook. Has he been in this field for about 20 years like me? No...but he is very well educated and has plenty of experience training himself, with some very nice accomplishments.

 

[gopro]

OK. How?

Someone please speak to HOW. How can a small, isolated, electrical signal, intended to locate spasms prove anything in the realm of what your brain is able to do via its electrical signals to the muscle?

I mean, we haven't even gone into receptors yet, I just want to know how.

In a proper EMG test, like when testing to see what portions of a muscle are "working hardest" during a particular exercise, more than one needle is inserted into the muscle. Many needles are inserted in different portions of a muscle so as to get a larger picture of what is happening (measured through electrical activity and displayed on an oscilloscope).

An EMG can test firing characteristics of motor neurons and motor units, including analysis of motor unit action potentials (muaps). Its a little more complex than simply "locating muscle spasms."

Like I said, while EMG is not the "end all be all" of successful workout programming, it certainly provides a picture of what is going on within muscles during various exercises. Anyone that does not buy into the notion that portions of a muscle can be isolated with certain exercises, grips, and/or angles will dismiss EMG studies entirely, but for those of you that know better, EMG studies provide a valuable tool to utilize when putting together an individualized training program.