Electromyographic fatigue threshold of the biceps brachii: the effect of endurance time.

Muscle fatigue can be a limiting factor to determine index as the electromyographic fatigue threshold (EMGFT) due the alterations in motivation and disconfots. This way, the purpose of this study was to identify the right biceps brachii and left biceps brachii obtained from repetitive elbow flexions at each 100% of total time. Nine healthy subjects performed the exercise named biceps curl until exhaustion with 25%, 35%, and 45%0 of one repetition maximum, in three different days. EMG amplitude (root mean square--RMS) was obtained for concentric contractions during these load levels and correlated with time to determine the slope values for each load and them determine the EMGFT. The EMGFT was obtained within of each 10% of total time and they were compared by analysis of variance. The results showed a progressive increase in RMS with time, for both muscles in all loads, characterizing the muscle fatigue process, and for the EMGFT values ware not found predominantly significant differences between the execution time, as well as between muscles (right biceps x left biceps). This protocol allowed to identify the EMGFT to both muscles during the biceps curl, which was similar at different percentage of total time, indicating the possibility to reduce the length of the contraction test without the need to maintain the contraction until exhaustion. Further studies are needed to evaluate the applicability of this method to determining the effects on performance.

Electromyographic fatigue threshold of the biceps brachii muscle during dynamic contraction.

The purpose of this study was to identify the Electromyographic Fatigue Threshold (EMGFT) of the biceps brachii muscle bilaterally during the elbow flexion in tests performed in different times. 30 second test, 1 minute test and fatiguing test, in concentric (CC) and eccentric (EC) phases. Nine healthy young men performed the elbow flexion with loads corresponding at 25%, 35% and 45% of the one repetition maximum (1-RM) in separate days. The results indicated that the test applied for the biceps brachii muscle during elbow flexion induced a progressive increment of EMG activity with time indicating muscle fatigue and allowed the identification of the EMGFT. The three tests presented no difference of EMGFT between CC and EC phases bilaterally.

Spectral analysis of the electromyograph of the erector spinae muscle before and after a dynamic manual load-lifting test.

The aim of the present study was to assess the spectral behavior of the erector spinae muscle during isometric contractions performed before and after a dynamic manual load-lifting test carried out by the trunk in order to determine the capacity of muscle to perform this task. Nine healthy female students participated in the experiment. Their average age, height, and body mass (+/- SD) were 20 +/- 1 years, 1.6 +/- 0.03 m, and 53 +/- 4 kg, respectively. The development of muscle fatigue was assessed by spectral analysis (median frequency) and root mean square with time. The test consisted of repeated bending movements from the trunk, starting from a 45 masculine angle of flexion, with the application of approximately 15, 25 and 50% of maximum individual load, to the stand up position. The protocol used proved to be more reliable with loads exceeding 50% of the maximum for the identification of muscle fatigue by electromyography as a function of time. Most of the volunteers showed an increase in root mean square versus time on both the right (N = 7) and the left (N = 6) side, indicating a tendency to become fatigued. With respect to the changes in median frequency of the electromyographic signal, the loads used in this study had no significant effect on either the right or the left side of the erector spinae muscle at this frequency, suggesting that a higher amount and percentage of loads would produce more substantial results in the study of isotonic contractions.

Spectral analysis of the electromyograph of the erector spinae muscle before and after a dynamic manual load-lifting test

The aim of the present study was to assess the spectral behavior of the erector spinae muscle during isometric contractions performed before and after a dynamic manual load-lifting test carried out by the trunk in order to determine the capacity of muscle to perform this task. Nine healthy female students participated in the experiment. Their average age, height, and body mass (± SD) were 20 ± 1 years, 1.6 ± 0.03 m, and 53 ± 4 kg, respectively. The development of muscle fatigue was assessed by spectral analysis (median frequency) and root mean square with time. The test consisted of repeated bending movements from the trunk, starting from a 45º angle of flexion, with the application of approximately 15, 25 and 50 percent of maximum individual load, to the stand up position. The protocol used proved to be more reliable with loads exceeding 50 percent of the maximum for the identification of muscle fatigue by electromyography as a function of time. Most of the volunteers showed an increase in root mean square versus time on both the right (N = 7) and the left (N = 6) side, indicating a tendency to become fatigued. With respect to the changes in median frequency of the electromyographic signal, the loads used in this study had no significant effect on either the right or the left side of the erector spinae muscle at this frequency, suggesting that a higher amount and percentage of loads would produce more substantial results in the study of isotonic contractions.

Electromyographic fatigue threshold of erector spinae muscle induced by a muscular endurance test in health men.

PURPOSE: To identify the electromyographic fatigue threshold in the erector spinae muscle. METHODS: Eight 19 to 24-year-old male volunteers participated in this study, in which surface electrodes were used, as well as a biological signals acquisition module (Lynx) with a sampling frequency of 1000 Hz, a 1000 times gain, a 20 Hz high pass filter and a 500 Hz low pass filter. The test consisted of repeated isometric contractions of the erector spinae muscle in a 45 degrees hip flexion posture, with 30%, 40%, 50% and 60% of the maximum voluntary isometric contraction. RESULTS: A positive correlation of the RMS (root mean square) value as a function of time was found for most of the subjects with 40% (N = 6), 50% (N = 7) and 60% (N = 8) loads of the maximum voluntary isometric contraction. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded, from this study, that the proposed protocol provides evidence, through the electromyographic signal, of the development of fatigue in the erector spinae muscle with loads of 40%, 50% and 60% of the maximum voluntary isometric contraction. The protocol also allows the electromyographic fatigue threshold and its probable applicability in the diagnosis of this phenomenon during repetitive activities to be determined.