Analysis of electrogastrograms during exercise loads

Abstract

A percutaneous electrogastrogram (EGG) is a simple and low-restraint way to measure the electrical activity of the gastrointestinal tract. An electrogastrogram examination is a noninvasive method of evaluating gastrointestinal motility and autonomic nervous system activity. However, EGGs are not as widely used in clinical settings as electrocardiograms (ECGs) or electroencephalographs (EEGs) because an EGG can be impacted by electrical activity from the myocardium and diaphragm (due to respiration), and there is no method to relate the functions of the stomach to the data obtained. This paper examines the effect of exercise on gastric electrical activity using two exercise intensities to confirm the basic biological response of an EGG. It was found that after high-intensity exercising the spectrum density at the normal frequency band of the stomach (2.4–3.7 cpm) decreased, which may indicate a decline in gastric activity during exercise. Exercise intensity is thought to affect the electrical activity of not only the gastrointestinal tract but also other organs.