Galileo Research Facts No. 101: Does Galileo Training trigger a stretch-reflex with each upwards movement of the platform?

This study proves an important principle: For a long time, researchers simply assumed all components of an EMG (Electromyogram, muscle activation) signal at the vibration frequency would be movement artefacts and should therefore be neglected for analysis. Therefore the study has a significant impact on the interpretation of any study suing EMG-measurements during vibration (for example: #GRFS151, #GRFS123, #GRFS111, #GRFS109, #GRFS100, #GRFS95, #GRFS8, #GRFS4, #GRFS3).

However, this study proved that each upwards movement of the Galileo platform actually triggers one stretch-reflex (monosynaptic reflex) and therefore causes an EMG signal with a fixed delay (latency) to the start of the movement of the platform. This delay is independent of the frequency but dependent on the individual and is equivalent to the delay for this individual as a reaction on a single tilt (single stretch reflex). If it had been a movement artefact it would have been dependent on the vibration frequency instead of the individual disposition.

This has a major implication on results of many studies performed with Galileo and EMG measurements since they significantly underestimated muscle Activation because they filtered this dominant frequency component. This study also proved that each movement of the Galileo platform triggers a stretch-reflex – one important basic effect which is one of the causes of the effectiveness of Galileo Training because it does not simply “shake” the muscles but actually causes muscle activation: the Mechano-Stimulation.

#GRFS101 #GalileoTraining #MechnoStimulation #EMG #StretchReflex #FrequencyRanges #TonicVibrationReflex #Muscelactivation