Electromyographic signs of neuromuscular fatigue are concomitant with further increase in ventilation during static handgrip

Validity of different EMG analysis methods to identify aerobic and anaerobic thresholds in speed skaters

PURPOSE

This study aimed to assess the validity of the first (EMGth1) and second (EMGth2) breakpoints in the EMG signal during skating.

SCOPE

Ten well-trained long track speed skaters performed a maximal incremental skating test on a slide board. EMG signals from six lower limb muscles were recorded during the last 15 s of each stage and converted to Root Mean Square for determination EMGth1 and EMGth2 using mathematical (2 and 3 linear regressions) and visual methods.

CONCLUSIONS

EMGth1 had a low detection rate (<50%) while EMGth2 could be identified visually in > 80% of cases, in 85% of cases using 2-lines and 63% using 3-lines regression. Quads (VL + VM) and Gluts (GM + GMd) had the highest EMGth2 detection rate for all methods (>70%). EMGth2 from Quads and Gluts detected by the 2-lines and 3-lines regression were not different than the second ventilatory threshold (VT2) (p > 0.05), while the visual method overestimated VT2 (p < 0.01). EMGth2 detected from Quads by the 2-lines regression method presented better correlation with VT2 stage (r = 0.91), lowest bias, and limit of agreement. We conclude that EMG is a valid non-invasive method to detect VT2 during skating when using a mathematical method to determine EMGth2.

Consequences of simulated car driving at constant high speed on the sensorimotor control of leg muscles and the braking response

Due to the increase in time spent seated in cars, there is a risk of fatigue of the leg muscles which adjust the force exerted on the accelerator pedal. Any change in their sensorimotor control could lengthen the response to emergency braking. Fourteen healthy male subjects (mean age: 42 ± 4 years) were explored. Before and after a 1-h driving trial at 120 km h^-1 , we measured the braking response, the maximal leg extension and foot inversion forces, the tonic vibratory response (TVR) in gastrocnemius medialis (GM) and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles to explore the myotatic reflex, and the Hoffmann reflex (H-reflex). During driving, surface electromyograms (EMGs) of GM and TA were recorded and the ratio between high (H) and low (L) EMG energies allowed to evaluate the recruitment of high- and low-frequency motor unit discharges. During driving, the H/L ratio decreased in TA, whereas modest and often no significant H/L changes occurred in GM muscle. After driving, the maximal foot inversion force decreased (-19%), while the leg extension force did not vary. Reduced TVR amplitude (-29%) was measured in TA, but no H-reflex changes were noted. The braking reaction time was not modified after the driving trial. Driving at constant elevated speed reduced the myotatic reflex and the recruitment of motor units in TA muscle. The corresponding changes were rarely present in the GM muscle that plays a key role in the braking response, and this could explain the absence of a reduced braking reaction time.

The Glazer Protocol: Evidence-Based Medicine Pelvic Floor Muscle (PFM) Surface Electromyography (SEMG)

The authors cite a Medline review article of biofeedback for urinary incontinence to demonstrate the pervasive lack of standardized operationally defined variables, which precludes the application of evidence-based-medicine standards to the field. As an example of an early-stage evidence-based-medicine model, the Glazer Protocol demonstrates how empirically derived and operationally defined SEMG characteristics hold great promise for a better understanding of the pathophysiology of urinary incontinence and can assist in both diagnosis and treatment of this disorder.

The electromyographic fatigue threshold is not a valid tool to assess muscle function

The present study aimed at determining the electromyographic fatigue threshold (EMG(FT)) from the EMG activity level and the EMG frequency content of the First Dorsal Interosseous. Thirty-seven healthy subjects performed seven isometric index abductions at randomly ordered percentages of maximal voluntary contraction (i.e., 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, 50% and 60%). During these bouts, surface EMG was measured using a linear electrodes array (i.e., seven EMG channels) in the First Dorsal Interosseous. For each subject the EMG(FT) was determined from both Root Mean Square (RMS) and Mean Power Frequency (MPF) values, only if the following criteria were met: (i) significant positive linear regression (P<0.05) between force and slope coefficient, (ii) an adjusted coefficient of determination for force versus slope coefficient relationship greater than 0.85, and (iii) a standard error for the EMG(FT) below 5% of MVC. The results showed the inability to determine an EMG(FT) in all of the 37 subjects from both RMS (9 out of 37 subjects) and MPF (27 out of 37 subjects). In addition, for the 12 subjects tested twice, the reproducibility of the EMG(FT) determination was weak (ICC=-0.029 and SEM=7.5% of MVC for EMG(FT) determined from MPF). The present results suggest that the EMG(FT) is not a valid tool to assess muscle function.

Electromyographic analysis of pedaling: a review

Although pedaling is constrained by the circular trajectory of the pedals, it is not a simple movement. This review attempts to provide an overview of the pedaling technique using an electromyographic (EMG) approach. Literature concerning the electromyographic analysis of pedaling is reviewed in an effort to make a synthesis of the available information, and to point out its relevance for researchers, clinicians and/or cycling/triathlon trainers. The first part of the review depicts methodological aspects of the EMG signal recording and processing. We show how the pattern of muscle activation during pedaling can be analyzed in terms of muscle activity level and muscle activation timing. Muscle activity level is generally quantified with root mean square or integrated EMG values. Muscle activation timing is studied by defining EMG signal onset and offset times that identify the duration of EMG bursts and, more recently, by the determination of a lag time maximizing the cross-correlation coefficient. In the second part of the review, we describe whether the patterns of the lower limb muscles activity are influenced by numerous factors affecting pedaling such as power output, pedaling rate, body position, shoe-pedal interface, training status and fatigue. Some research perspectives linked to pedaling performance are discussed throughout the manuscript and in the conclusion.

Detection of ventilatory threshold by an automatic parabolic model

This work aims at presenting a method for automatic detection of the ventilatory threshold by modeling ventilatory equivalent of oxygen by a parabolic function. Thirty healthy male subjects were submitted to a single maximal oxygen uptake test, being monitored the ventilatory gas exchange signals. Ventilatory threshold by visual inspection, automatic v-slope and parabolic function methods was compared. The automatic methods showed no significant differences with visual inspection, but the parabolic technique presented higher consistence than v-slope. Since the parabolic method have low computation cost and is a simple method, it can be recommended as an alternative choice to v-slope method.

Effects of abdominal muscle fatigue on anticipatory postural adjustments associated with arm raising

Anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) are postulated to ameliorate the effects of the disturbance to posture caused by voluntary movement. The primary hypothesis tested in our study was that the magnitude of anticipatory trunk muscle activity is altered by abdominal muscle fatigue. A subsidiary aim of the present study was to examine the directional nature of APAs and use this information to elucidate the central or peripheral nature of changes in postural muscle activity associated with abdominal muscle fatigue. The present study was a within subject design, where abdominal muscle fatigue was induced by a static abdominal curl. Surface EMG was used to assess postural muscle activity in the following trunk muscles; rectus abdominis, erector spinae and internal oblique. Following abdominal muscle fatigue, the magnitude of muscle activity during APAs was significantly reduced by 20% in both the rectus abdominis (fatigued muscle) and the erector spinae (not fatigued) indicating a central rather than peripheral fatigue effect on muscle activity. Abdominal muscle fatigue also induced a 30% increase in the baseline muscle activity of the internal oblique. The changes in magnitude of APA muscle activity may reflect a change in system gain or a change in postural control perhaps related to a change in perceived postural stability. An increase in baseline muscle activity in the internal oblique may compensate partially for the reduction in APAs.

Reliability of different blood indices to explore the oxidative stress in response to maximal cycling and static exercises

This study compares the changes in four blood markers of exercise-induced oxidative stress in response to exercise protocols commonly used to explore the global muscle performance at work (maximal incremental cycle) and endurance to fatigue of selected muscles (static handgrip and thumb adduction). Cycling and static exercises allow the muscle to work in aerobic and anaerobic conditions, respectively. Healthy adults performed an incremental cycling exercise until volitional exhaustion and, on separated days, executed infra-maximal static thumb adduction and handgrip until exhaustion. Exercise-induced oxidative stress was assessed by the increased plasma concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), the consumption of plasma reduced ascorbic acid (RAA), and erythrocyte reduced glutathione (GSH) antioxidants, and the changes in the total antioxidant status (TAS) of plasma. Five minutes after the end of the incremental cycling exercise, we measured a peak increase in TBARS level, maximal consumption of GSH and RAA, and a modest but significant decrease in TAS concentration. In response to both static thumb adduction and handgrip, significant variations of TBARS, GSH and RAA occurred but we did not measure any significant change in TAS level throughout the 20-min recovery period of both exercise bouts. The present study shows that only the changes in TBARS, GSH and RAA explore both dynamic and static exercises. In addition, TAS measurement does not seem to represent a reliable and unique tool to explore exercise-induced oxidative stress, at least during isometric efforts that allow the muscle to work under anaerobic condition.