INTRODUCTION: The efficacy of muscle activity during in-line skating and while alpine slalom skiing has yet to be determined quantitatively (Zeglinksi et al., 1998). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare muscle activity during parallel christie on both alpine skis and with the glestain grandeurs, because we feel the glestain grandeur more approximates the side to side movements of alpine skiing than do other dry-land training devices. METHOD: The glestain grandeur can slide by side movements on hard ground partly because wheel movements in a lateral direction produced an elastic quality. The alpine ski is a pure carving type. With regards to the measurement of muscle activity, bipolar surface electrodes were placed on subjects over six muscles. The angles of knee and hip joints were measured using a goniometer. RESULTS: During the parallel christie using the glestain grandeur, the total average of muscle activity on whole turns in the six muscles was higher than that while alpine skiing. The joint angles while using the glestain grandeur were similar to those while alpine skiing from the initiation phase to turning phase. DISCUSSION: Muscle activity may be associated with the greater frictional resistance to edge throughout the longer turning phase while using the glestain grandeur. On the joint angles during the parallel christie, the duration of the whole turning phase in both activities was similar. The subjects were able to maneuver through both courses at high speeds while maintaining balance and control. CONCLUSION: The total average of muscle activity during the parallel christie using the glestain grandeur appeared to be quantitatively higher on the six muscles measured than while alpine skiing. The joint angles while using the glestain grandeur increased similar to alpine skiing throughout each phase.
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