Introduction: In sports and exercise, treadmills are a widely used device. However, it is rare to use a traditional treadmill to activate the upper body. Equipped with an adjustable resistance and upper limb support for both pushing and pulling exercises the Skillmill (SKM), a non- motorized, innovative treadmill made by Technogym, was evaluated in the present study assessing its ability to recruit multiple muscle groups. The aim of the study was to assess the muscle activation of healthy males when performing ten different exercises on the SKM. Methods: Eight healthy male subjects with similar levels of fitness participated. Each subject was asked to perform the following exercises: a 6 km/h walk (W), a 12 km/h run (R) and sprint (S) at maximal speed, a resisted walk at 6 km/h (RW), side shuffle (both legs leading) (SSR, SSL), galloping with a resisted harness, assessing both legs (GR, GL) and pushing against the front handle in a high or low grip (PH, PL). Surface EMG of 12 muscles on right side of each subject were investigated, applying 2 pre-gelled bipolar electrodes on the belly of each muscle: Tib. Ant. (TA), Gastr. Med. (GM), Vastus Med. (VM), Biceps Fem. (BF), Rectus Fem. (RF), Gluteus Max. (GLM), Rectus Abd. (RA), Adductor (AD), Erector Spinae (ES), Pect. Major (PM), Lat. Dorsi (LD), Triceps Brach. (TB). The kinematics data was collected by means of an optoelectronic system (BTS Bioengineering), using 12 reflective markers placed in specific bony landmarks. EMG signals were rectified, integrated with a moving window of 200 ms, filtered at 6 Hz and normalized to the gait cycle. Following this, an average signal over 5 consecutive cycles was concluded, defined between two consecutive right heel strikes. Results: Sprinting on the SKM resulted in a maximized average of the cycle activation of GM, BF and GLM; when sprinting against a resistance and pushing against a lowhandle (PL) at a similar intensity, the activation of VM and RF of the forward leg was significantly increased; walking sideways highly activated the ES, whereas AD did not show any noticeable activity. Pushing on high grips (PH) activated mainly the PM and TB, however a greater recruitment of those muscles occurred when galloping and sprinting. Discussion: The results of the study highlights the possibility of recruiting differently muscle groups at high intensities on a non-motorized treadmill equipped like the SKM with front handles and restraints, as well as rear support for belt or harness running.
© Copyright 2016 21st Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science (ECSS), Vienna, 6. -9. July 2016. Veröffentlicht von University of Vienna. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.