Resumen

OLIVEIRA, Daniela Cristina Silveira de et al. Electromyographic analysis of lower limb muscles in proprioceptive exercises performed with eyes open and closed. Rev Bras Med Esporte [online]. 2012, vol.18, n.4, pp. 261-266. ISSN 1517-8692.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1517-86922012000400009.

INTRODUCTION: Proprioception is a term used to describe all the neural information originated from the proprioceptors of the joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments and capsules, which is sent via afferent pathways to the central nervous system. EMG is the study of muscle function through the investigation of the electrical signal emanated from the muscle and it is also the study of the motor unit activity. OBJECTIVE: To perform electromyographic analysis of the rectus femoris (RF) and tibialis anterior (TA) in different proprioceptive exercises (disc Freeman and rocker) with eyes open (OE) and closed (CE). METHODS: The analysis was conducted with 10 physically active male subjects, in a collection time of 10 seconds on each device with eyes both open and closed. RESULTS: Thus, according to our findings, significant difference is observed when the proprioceptive exercises are performed with eyes open and closed, obtaining higher muscle activation, according to the electromyographic analysis, in the exercises with eyes closed, highlighting the importance of the visual system and how it interferes in the body's position when it is subjected to balance changes caused by the studied devices. CONCLUSION: Therefore, it can be concluded that the rectus femoris muscle did not show evident significant differences between the rocker and Freeman disc, as well as when the exercise was performed with eyes open or closed. The significant difference occurred was between the OE and CE Rocker and between Rocker OE and disk Freeman CE. Since the tibialis anterior muscle showed greater differences, especially with eyes closed, regardless of the device, which showed no significant differences between them.

Palabras llave : proprioception; electromyography; thigh and leg muscles.