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Rodrigues SB, de Faria LP, Monteiro AM, Lima JL, Barbosa TM, Duarte JA. EMG Signal Processing for the Study of Localized Muscle Fatigue-Pilot Study to Explore the Applicability of a Novel Method. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:13270. [PMID: 36293853 PMCID: PMC9603294 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
This pilot study aimed to explore a method for characterization of the electromyogram frequency spectrum during a sustained exertion task, performed by the upper limb. Methods: Nine participants underwent an isometric localized muscle fatigue protocol on an isokinetic dynamometer until exhaustion, while monitored with surface electromyography (sEMG) of the shoulder's external rotators. Firstly, three methods of signal energy analysis based on primer frequency contributors were compared to the energy of the entire spectrum. Secondly, the chosen method of analysis was used to characterize the signal energy at beginning (T1), in the middle (T2) and at the end (T3) of the fatigue protocol and compared to the torque output and the shift in the median frequencies during the trial. Results: There were statistically significant differences between T1 and T3 for signal energy (p < 0.007) and for central frequency of the interval (p = 0.003). Moreover, the isometric peak torque was also different between T1 and T3 (p < 0.001). Overall, there were no differences between the signal energy enclosed in the 40 primer frequency contributors and the analysis of the full spectrum energy; consequently, it was the method of choice. The reported fatigue and the decrease in the produced muscle torque was consistent with fatigue-induced alterations in the electromyogram frequency spectrum. In conclusion, the developed protocol has potential to be considered as an easy-to-use method for EMG-based analysis of isometric muscle exertion until fatigue. Thus, the novelty of the proposed method is to explore, in muscle fatigue, the use of only the main contributors in the frequency domain of the EMG spectrum, avoiding surplus information, that may not represent muscle functioning. However, further studies are needed to investigate the stability of the present findings in a more comprehensive sample.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra B. Rodrigues
- FP-I3ID, FP-BHS, Escola Superior de Saúde Fernando Pessoa, Rua Delfim Maia 334, 4200-253 Porto, Portugal
| | - Luís Palermo de Faria
- FP-I3ID, FP-BHS, Escola Superior de Saúde Fernando Pessoa, Rua Delfim Maia 334, 4200-253 Porto, Portugal
| | - António M. Monteiro
- Department of Sports Sciences and Physical Education, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
- Research Center in Sports, Health and Human Development, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - José Luís Lima
- Research Centre in Digitalization and Intelligent Robotics (CeDRI), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
- Laboratório Para a Sustentabilidade e Tecnologia em Regiões de Montanha (SusTEC), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
- INESC Technology and Science, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Tiago M. Barbosa
- Department of Sports Sciences and Physical Education, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
- Research Center in Sports, Health and Human Development, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - José A. Duarte
- CIAFEL, Faculty of Sports, Porto University, Rua Dr. Plácido Costa 91, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
- TOXRUN, University Institute of Health Sciences, Rua Central de Gandra 1317, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal
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Monjo F, Zory R, Forestier N. Fatiguing Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Decreases the Sense of Effort During Subsequent Voluntary Contractions in Men. Neuroscience 2020; 446:113-123. [PMID: 32891703 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2020.08.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
As voluntary muscle fatigue increases, the perception of the effort required to produce a particular level of force also increases. This occurs because we produce greater neural outputs from the brain to compensate for the fatigue-induced loss of force. Muscle fatigue can also be generated following bouts of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), a technique widely used for rehabilitation and training purposes. Yet the effects of NMES-induced fatigue on the perception of effort have never been tested. In this study, we thus evaluated how electrically evoked fatigue would affect the sense of effort. For this purpose, we used two psychophysical tasks intended to assess effort perception: (i) a bilateral matching task in which subjects were asked to contract the elbow flexors of their reference and indicator arms with similar amounts of effort and (ii) a unilateral matching task in which they produced controlled levels of isometric force with their indicator arm and rated their perceived effort using the Borg CR10 scale. These tasks were performed before and after the biceps brachii of the indicator arm was submitted to a fatiguing NMES program that generated maximal force losses of 10-15%. Contrary to voluntary muscle fatigue, the sense of effort decreased post-NMES in both tasks despite increased neural outputs to the elbow flexors of the fatigued indicator arm. This shows that the relationship between motor command magnitude and effort perception was completely modified by NMES. It is proposed that NMES alters the sensory structures responsible for effort signal integration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nicolas Forestier
- Université Savoie Mont Blanc, Laboratoire Interuniversitaire de Biologie de la Motricité, Chambéry, France
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Liss CM, Sanni AA, McCully KK. Endurance of the Dorsal and Ventral Muscles in the Neck. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol 2020; 5:E47. [PMID: 33467263 PMCID: PMC7739275 DOI: 10.3390/jfmk5030047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 07/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Endurance of the muscles of the neck are rarely studied. This study measured the endurance index (EI) of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and upper trapezius muscles of the neck (trap). The vastus lateralis (VL) was used for comparison. Skeletal muscle endurance of twelve healthy subjects, age 19-22 years, were tested on their SCM and trap in random order on one day, VL was tested on a separate day. Participants were tested in the supine position for the SCM and VL muscles and the prone position for the trap. Muscle contractions consisted of a 5 Hz twitch electrical stimulation for 5 min. Muscle acceleration (resultant vector) was measured using a triaxial accelerometer. EI was the ending acceleration as a percentage of the maximal acceleration. The endurance index (EI) for the SCM, trap, and VL was 42.3 ± 13.0%, 42.3 ± 20.2%, and 92.9 ± 11.0%, respectively. The EI of the VL was significantly higher than the EI of the SCM (t(2,22) = 10.33, p < 0.001) and the trap (t(2,22) = 7.625, p < 0.001). The EI was not different between the SCM and the trap muscle (t(2,22) = 0.004, p = 0.997). In conclusion, the neck muscles had much less endurance than the muscles in the leg and could make fatigued athletes more susceptible to concussions caused by head impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Adeola A. Sanni
- Department of Kinesiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA; (C.M.L.); (K.K.M.)
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Acute and chronic neuromuscular electrical stimulation and postural balance: a review. Eur J Appl Physiol 2020; 120:1475-1488. [DOI: 10.1007/s00421-020-04383-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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Physical and cognitive exertion do not influence feedforward activation of the trunk muscles: a randomized crossover trial. Exp Brain Res 2019; 237:3011-3021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00221-019-05585-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Voluntary and electrically-induced muscle fatigue differently affect postural control mechanisms in unipedal stance. Exp Brain Res 2018; 237:313-323. [DOI: 10.1007/s00221-018-5418-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Muscle fatigue as an investigative tool in motor control: A review with new insights on internal models and posture–movement coordination. Hum Mov Sci 2015; 44:225-33. [DOI: 10.1016/j.humov.2015.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2015] [Revised: 08/28/2015] [Accepted: 09/14/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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Paillard T. Complexity of the effects of the electrically-induced muscle fatigue on motor control. Clin Neurophysiol 2015; 126:1464-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2014.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2014] [Revised: 11/11/2014] [Accepted: 11/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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