Abstract
The study aimed to investigate the relationship between maximum oxygen consumption values obtained on a bicycle ergometer and vastus lateralis (VL) muscle EMG activity values during the test. A total of 20 athletes participated in the study. To determine the VO2max, a bicycle ergometer was used with a portable gas analyzer. The discontinuous incremental protocol was used to determine the VO2max values of subjects. The data were gathered from the right side VL muscle via surface electromyography. According to the results obtained, MVIC% values of the VL muscle of the subjects and VO2max (mL min−1) values (p = 0.586, r = 0.130); VO2max (mL min−1 kg−1) values (p = 0.295, r = 0.246); RER values (p = 0.308, r = −0.240) and HRmax (beats min−1) values (p = 0.321, r = 0.234) were not statistically significant and no significant difference was found in the regression analysis between the MVIC% value of the VL muscle obtained and the VO2max (mL min−1 kg−1) values (p = 0.295, R2 = 0.061). There was no significant correlation and regression between the muscle activation involved in the workout during the VO2max test and the cardiovascular response.