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Garcia-Retortillo S, Ivanov PC. Inter-muscular networks of synchronous muscle fiber activation. FRONTIERS IN NETWORK PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 2:1059793. [PMID: 36926057 PMCID: PMC10012969 DOI: 10.3389/fnetp.2022.1059793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Skeletal muscles continuously coordinate to facilitate a wide range of movements. Muscle fiber composition and timing of activation account for distinct muscle functions and dynamics necessary to fine tune muscle coordination and generate movements. Here we address the fundamental question of how distinct muscle fiber types dynamically synchronize and integrate as a network across muscles with different functions. We uncover that physiological states are characterized by unique inter-muscular network of muscle fiber cross-frequency interactions with hierarchical organization of distinct sub-networks and modules, and a stratification profile of links strength specific for each state. We establish how this network reorganizes with transition from rest to exercise and fatigue-a complex process where network modules follow distinct phase-space trajectories reflecting their functional role in movements and adaptation to fatigue. This opens a new area of research, Network Physiology of Exercise, leading to novel network-based biomarkers of health, fitness and clinical conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergi Garcia-Retortillo
- Keck Laboratory for Network Physiology, Department of Physics, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Health and Exercise Science, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
- Complex Systems in Sport INEFC University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Plamen Ch. Ivanov
- Keck Laboratory for Network Physiology, Department of Physics, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School and Division of Sleep Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
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2
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Honert EC, Ostermair F, von Tscharner V, Nigg BM. Changes in ankle work, foot work, and tibialis anterior activation throughout a long run. JOURNAL OF SPORT AND HEALTH SCIENCE 2022; 11:330-338. [PMID: 33662603 PMCID: PMC9189696 DOI: 10.1016/j.jshs.2021.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ankle and foot together contribute to over half of the positive and negative work performed by the lower limbs during running. Yet, little is known about how foot kinetics change throughout a run. The amount of negative foot work may decrease as tibialis anterior (TA) electromyography (EMG) changes throughout longer-duration runs. Therefore, we examined ankle and foot work as well as TA EMG changes throughout a changing-speed run. METHODS Fourteen heel-striking subjects ran on a treadmill for 58 min. We collected ground reaction forces, motion capture, and EMG. Subjects ran at 110%, 100%, and 90% of their 10-km running speed and 2.8 m/s multiple times throughout the run. Foot work was evaluated using the distal rearfoot work, which provides a net estimate of all work contributors within the foot. RESULTS Positive foot work increased and positive ankle work decreased throughout the run at all speeds. At the 110% 10-km running speed, negative foot work decreased and TA EMG frequency shifted lower throughout the run. The increase in positive foot work may be attributed to increased foot joint work performed by intrinsic foot muscles. Changes in negative foot work and TA EMG frequency may indicate that the TA plays a role in negative foot work in the early stance of a run. CONCLUSION This study is the first to examine how the kinetic contributions of the foot change throughout a run. Future studies should investigate how increases in foot work affect running performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric C Honert
- Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada.
| | - Florian Ostermair
- Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada; Institute of Sports and Sports Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe 76131, Germany; Department of Sports Science and Sports, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen 91058, Germany
| | - Vinzenz von Tscharner
- Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Benno M Nigg
- Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
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Mohr M, von Tscharner V, Nigg S, Nigg BM. Systematic reduction of leg muscle activity throughout a standard assessment of running footwear. JOURNAL OF SPORT AND HEALTH SCIENCE 2022; 11:309-318. [PMID: 33453431 PMCID: PMC9189700 DOI: 10.1016/j.jshs.2021.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to investigate whether there is a systematic change of leg muscle activity, as quantified by surface electromyography (EMG), throughout a standard running footwear assessment protocol at a predetermined running speed. METHODS Thirty-one physically active adults (15 females and 16 males) completed 5 testing rounds consisting of overground running trials at a speed of 3.5 m/s. The level of muscle activity from 6 major leg muscles was recorded using surface EMG. The variables assessed were the EMG total intensity as a function of time and the cumulative EMG overall intensity. Systematic effects of the chronological testing round (independent variable) on the normalized EMG overall intensity (dependent variable) were examined using Friedman analysis of variates and post hoc pairwise Wilcoxon signed-rank tests (α = 0.05). RESULTS There was a systematic reduction in overall EMG intensity for all 6 muscles over the time course of the running protocol (p < 0.001) until the fourth testing round when EMG intensities reached a steady state. The one exception was the biceps femoris muscle, which showed a significant reduction of EMG intensity during the stance phase (p < 0.001) but not the swing phase (p = 0.16). CONCLUSION While running at a predetermined speed, the neuromuscular system undergoes an adaptation process characterized by a progressive reduction in the activity level of major leg muscles. This process may represent an optimization strategy of the neuromuscular system towards a more energetically efficient running style. Future running protocols should include a familiarization period of at least 7 min or 600 strides of running at the predetermined speed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurice Mohr
- Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck 6020, Austria; Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
| | - Vinzenz von Tscharner
- Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Sandro Nigg
- Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Benno M Nigg
- Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
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Mets M, Tootsi P, Sokk J, Ereline J, Haviko T, Pääsuke M, Gapeyeva H. Thigh Muscle Activation After a Home Exercise Program in Knee Osteoarthritis Patients. PHYSICAL & OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY IN GERIATRICS 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/02703181.2022.2036295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Monika Mets
- Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Piret Tootsi
- Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Jelena Sokk
- Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Jaan Ereline
- Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Tiit Haviko
- Department of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Tartu University Hospital, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Mati Pääsuke
- Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Helena Gapeyeva
- Institute of Sport Sciences and Physiotherapy, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
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Błaszczyszyn M, Borysiuk Z, Piechota K, Kręcisz K, Zmarzły D. Wavelet coherence as a measure of trunk stabilizer muscle activation in wheelchair fencers. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil 2021; 13:140. [PMID: 34717749 PMCID: PMC8557511 DOI: 10.1186/s13102-021-00369-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intermuscular synchronization constitutes one of the key aspects of effective sport performance and activities of daily living. The aim of the study was to assess the synchronization of trunk stabilizer muscles in wheelchair fencers with the use of wavelet analysis. METHODS Intermuscular synchronization and antagonistic EMG-EMG coherence were evaluated in the pairs of the right and the left latissimus dorsi/external oblique abdominal (LD/EOA) muscles. The study group consisted of 16 wheelchair fencers, members of the Polish Paralympic Team, divided into two categories of disability (A and B). Data analysis was carried out in three stages: (1) muscle activation recording using sEMG; (2) wavelet coherence analysis; and (3) coherence density analysis. RESULTS In the Paralympic wheelchair fencers, regardless of their disability category, the muscles were activated at low frequency levels: 8-20 Hz for category A fencers, and 5-15 Hz for category B fencers. CONCLUSIONS The results demonstrated a clear activity of the trunk muscles in the wheelchair fencers, including those with spinal cord injury, which can be explained as an outcome of their intense training. EMG signal processing application have great potential for performance improvement and diagnosis of wheelchair athletes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Błaszczyszyn
- Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Opole University of Technology, Prószkowska 76, 45-758, Opole, Poland.
| | - Zbigniew Borysiuk
- Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Opole University of Technology, Prószkowska 76, 45-758, Opole, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Piechota
- Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Opole University of Technology, Prószkowska 76, 45-758, Opole, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Kręcisz
- Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, Opole University of Technology, Prószkowska 76, 45-758, Opole, Poland
| | - Dariusz Zmarzły
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Automatics and Computer Science, Opole University of Technology, Prószkowska 76, 45-758, Opole, Poland
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Fidalgo-Herrera A, Miangolarra-Page J, Carratalá-Tejada M. Traces of muscular fatigue in the rectus femoris identified with surface electromyography and wavelets on normal gait. Physiother Theory Pract 2020; 38:211-225. [DOI: 10.1080/09593985.2020.1725945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Fidalgo-Herrera
- Laboratorio de Análisis del Movimiento, Biomecánica, Ergonomía y Control Motor (LAMBECOM), Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Spain
| | - Juan Miangolarra-Page
- Laboratorio de Análisis del Movimiento, Biomecánica, Ergonomía y Control Motor (LAMBECOM), Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Spain
- Departamento de Medicina Física y Rehabilitación, Hospital Universitario de Fuenlabrada, Fuenlabrada, Spain
| | - Maria Carratalá-Tejada
- Laboratorio de Análisis del Movimiento, Biomecánica, Ergonomía y Control Motor (LAMBECOM), Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Spain
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Mohr M, von Tscharner V, Emery CA, Nigg BM. Classification of gait muscle activation patterns according to knee injury history using a support vector machine approach. Hum Mov Sci 2019; 66:335-346. [PMID: 31146192 DOI: 10.1016/j.humov.2019.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2018] [Revised: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Abnormal muscle activation patterns during gait following knee injury that persist past the acute injury and rehabilitation phase (>three years) are not well characterized but may be related to post-traumatic knee osteoarthritis. The aim was to characterize the abnormal muscle activity from electromyograms of five leg muscles that were recorded during treadmill walking for young adults with and without a previous knee injury 3-12 years prior. The wavelet transformed and amplitude normalized electromyograms yielded intensity patterns that reflect the muscle activity of these muscles resolved in time and frequency. Patterns belonging to the affected or unaffected leg in previously injured participants and patterns belonging to a previously injured vs. uninjured participant were grouped and then classified using a principal component analysis followed by a support vector machine. A leave-one-out cross-validation was used to test the model significance and generalization. The results showed that trained classifiers could successfully recognize whether muscle activation patterns belonged to the affected or unaffected leg of previously injured individuals. Classification rates of 83% were obtained for all subjects, 100% for females only, indicating sex-specific knee injury effects. In contrast, it was not possible to discriminate between patterns belonging to the previously injured legs or dominant legs of control subjects. For females, the injured leg showed a stronger muscle activity for hamstring muscles and a lower activity for the vastus lateralis. In conclusion, systematic knee injury effects on the neuromuscular control of the knee during gait were present 3-12 years later.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurice Mohr
- Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
| | - Vinzenz von Tscharner
- Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Carolyn A Emery
- Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; The Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute and McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Benno M Nigg
- Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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von Tscharner V. A model computation of how synchronization and clustering of motor unit action potentials alter the power spectra of electromyograms. Biomed Signal Process Control 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bspc.2018.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Comaduran Marquez D, von Tscharner V, Murari K, Nigg BM. Development of a multichannel current-EMG system for coherence modulation with visual biofeedback. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0206871. [PMID: 30444897 PMCID: PMC6239290 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
By means of biofeedback, neuromotor control can be modified. Recent biofeedback experiments have used the power of the electromyogram of one muscle in different frequency bands to control a two-dimensional cursor. However, the human body usually requires coherent activation of multiple muscles to achieve daily life tasks. Additionally, electromyography (EMG) instrumentation has remained the same for decades, and might not be the most suitable to measure coherent activations from pennated muscles according to recent experiments by von Tscharner and colleagues. In this study, we propose the development of a multichannel current-based EMG amplifier to use intermuscular coherence as the control feature of a visual biofeedback system. The system was used in a leg extension protocol to voluntarily increase intermuscular coherence between the vastii muscles. Results from ten subjects show that it is possible to increase intermuscular coherence through visual biofeedback. Such a system can have applications in endurance training and rehabilitation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kartikeya Murari
- Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada
- Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada
| | - Benno M. Nigg
- Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada
- Human Performance Laboratory, University of Calgary, Calgary AB, Canada
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Beta, gamma band, and high-frequency coherence of EMGs of vasti muscles caused by clustering of motor units. Exp Brain Res 2018; 236:3065-3075. [DOI: 10.1007/s00221-018-5356-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Mohr M, Schön T, von Tscharner V, Nigg BM. Intermuscular Coherence Between Surface EMG Signals Is Higher for Monopolar Compared to Bipolar Electrode Configurations. Front Physiol 2018; 9:566. [PMID: 29867587 PMCID: PMC5966566 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2018.00566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The vasti muscles have to work in concert to control knee joint motion during movements like walking, running, or squatting. Coherence analysis between surface electromyography (EMG) signals is a common technique to study muscle synchronization during such movements and gain insight into strategies of the central nervous system to optimize neuromuscular performance. However, different assessment methods related to EMG data acquisition, e.g., different electrode configurations or amplifier technologies, have produced inconsistent observations. Therefore, the aim of this study was to elucidate the effect of different EMG acquisition techniques (monopolar vs. bipolar electrode configuration, potential vs. current amplifier) on the magnitude, reliability, and sensitivity of intermuscular coherence between two vasti muscles during stable and unstable squatting exercises. Methods: Surface EMG signals from vastus lateralis (VL) and medialis (VM) were obtained from eighteen adults while performing series of stable und unstable bipedal squats. The EMG signals were acquired using three different recording techniques: (1) Bipolar with a potential amplifier, (2) monopolar with a potential amplifier, and (3) monopolar electrodes with a current amplifier. VL-VM coherence between the respective raw EMG signals was determined during two trials of stable squatting and one trial of unstable squatting to compare the coherence magnitude, reliability, and sensitivity between EMG recording techniques. Results: VL-VM coherence was about twice as high for monopolar recordings compared to bipolar recordings for all squatting exercises while coherence was similar between monopolar potential and current recordings. Reliability measures were comparable between recording systems while the sensitivity to an increase in intermuscular coherence during unstable vs. stable squatting was lowest for the monopolar potential system. Discussion and Conclusion: The choice of electrode configuration can have a significant effect on the magnitude of EMG-EMG coherence, which may explain previous inconsistencies in the literature. A simple simulation of cross-talk could not explain the large differences in intermuscular coherence. It is speculated that inevitable errors in the alignment of the bipolar electrodes with the muscle fiber direction leads to a reduction of information content in the differential EMG signals and subsequently to a lower resolution for the detection of intermuscular coherence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maurice Mohr
- Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Tanja Schön
- Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Vinzenz von Tscharner
- Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Benno M Nigg
- Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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