See the science of muscle activation behind the ActivMotion Bar!

1. SCHOOL OF KINESIOLOGY | UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
HUMAN PERFORMANCE INNOVATION LAB
MUSCLE
ACTIVATION
WITH
WEIGHTED
FITNESS
EQUIPMENT

2. Research
Question
Does
the
ActivMotion
bar
enhance
muscle
activity,
relative
to
standard
fitness
equipment?

3. How
do
we
measure
muscle
activity?
SURFACE
ELECTROMYOGRAPHY
• Sensors
measure
electrical
activity
of
muscles
Muscle
contraction
produced
by
electrical
signals

4. Range
of
Motion
INERTIAL
MEASUREMENT
UNITS
• Sensors
measure
body
positioning
Full-­‐body
instrumentation

5. Study
Protocol
• Active,
30-­‐50
years
of
age
• Standardized
series
of
exercises
• Equipment
• Standard
weighted
bar
(10
lbs
for
males;
6
lbs
for
females)
• Medicine
ball
• ActivMotion
bar

6. Results
ActivMotion Bar
Standard Bar
Medicine Ball
Deltoid
Trapezius
Latissimus
Dorsi
Pectoralis
Major
External
Oblique
Vastus
Medialis
Erector
Spinae
Rectus
Abdominus
Lateral
Gastrocnemius
Deltoid
ActivMotion
Bars
activated
all
muscles
or
muscle
groups
tested
(highlighted
above)
up
To
173%
more
than
the
standard
fitness
bar
and
medicine
ball,
with
averages
being
20%-­‐40%
more;
still
a
very
significant
difference.

7. Results
–
What
Does
More
Muscle
Activation
Mean
for
Fitness
Outcomes?
Greater
Calorie
Burn
–
Muscles
require
energy
to
contract
or
activate.
Our
energy
is
mostly
made
from
the
calories
we
ingest
through
food
or
from
our
body
fat.
More
muscle
activation
means
our
body
is
doing
more
work.
Because
ActivMotion
Bars
activate
muscles
to
a
much
greater
extent
than
standard
fitness
tools,
ActivMotion
Bar
workouts
will
burn
more
calories,
creating
a
more
efficient
workout
in
less
time.
More
Strength
–
More
muscle
activation
improves
the
muscle’s
ability
to
contract
and,
over
time,
get
stronger.
Because
ActivMotion
Bars
activate
muscles
of
the
core
and
extremities
up
to
93%
more
than
standard
fitness
tools,
people
will
experience
much
quicker
strength
adaptations
as
opposed
to
using
standard
static
fitness
tools.
Better
Balance
–
The
shifting
resistance
inside
ActivMotion
Bars
increases
one’s
stability
and
balance
abilities
by
activating
and
strengthening
the
most
important
“balance”
muscles
in
the
core
and
around
joints
as
the
user
attempts
to
keep
the
bar
stable.
Less
Injuries
–
A
strong
core
and
strong
joint
support
muscles
prevent
injuries
from
occurring.
If
you
find
yourself
slipping
on
ice,
tripping
or
losing
your
balance
in
general,
the
strong
framework
of
core
and
joint
stability
muscles
you
built
using
the
ActivMotion
Bar
can
help
you
catch
yourself
before
tumbling
to
the
ground!

8. End