Abstract
Investigations of back muscle fatigue are important for understanding the role of muscle strain in the development of low back pain. The aim of this contribution is to review the two main techniques used for in vivo investigations of metabolic and electrophysiological changes, namely magnetic resonance phosphorous spectroscopy (31P MRS) and surface electromyography (SEMG), and to report some of our recent results on simultaneous measurements using these techniques during isometric back-muscle contraction in volunteers. Since it appears that electrophysiological and metabolic factors are simultaneously involved in the processes of fatigue and muscle recovery during load application, simultaneous acquisition of complete information is quite promising for obtaining new insights into the metabolic origin of electrophysiological changes or vice versa. Performing these measurements simultaneously, however, is more intricate owing to the occurrence of signal artifacts caused by mutual signal interferences of both techniques. Besides these mutual disturbances, further experimental difficulties are related to spatial limitations within the bore of clinical whole-body high-field magnetic resonance (MR) systems (1.5 T) and the sensitivity of MR measurements to motion-induced artifacts. Our own experimental results are presented, and problems that occur using both techniques simultaneously, as well as possibilities to resolve them, are discussed. The results shed light on the interrelation of electrophysiological and metabolic changes during fatigue of the back muscle while performing an exercise.
References
1 Pope MH, Goh KL, Magnusson ML. Spine ergonomics. Annu Rev Biomed Eng2002; 4: 49–68.10.1146/annurev.bioeng.4.092101.122107Search in Google Scholar
2 Panjabi MM. Clinical spinal instability and low back pain. J Electromyogr Kinesiol2003; 13: 371–379.10.1016/S1050-6411(03)00044-0Search in Google Scholar
3 Biering-Sörensen F. Physical measurements as risk indicators for low-back trouble over a 1-year period. Spine1984; 9: 106–119.10.1097/00007632-198403000-00002Search in Google Scholar
4 Bendahan D, Giannesini B, Cozzone PJ. Functional investigations of exercising muscle: a noninvasive magnetic resonance spectroscopy magnetic resonance imaging approach. Cell Mol Life Sci2004; 61: 1001–1015.10.1007/s00018-004-3345-3Search in Google Scholar
5 Veech RL, Lawson JW, Cornell NW, Krebs HA. Cytosolic phosphorylation potential. J Biol Chem1979; 254: 6538–6547.10.1016/S0021-9258(18)50401-4Search in Google Scholar
6 Chance B, Leigh JS Jr, Clark BJ, et al. Control of oxidative metabolism and oxygen delivery in human skeletal muscle: a steady-state analysis of the work/energy cost transfer function. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA1985; 82: 8384–8388.10.1073/pnas.82.24.8384Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
7 Miller RG, Kent-Braun JA, Sharma KR, Weiner MW. Mechanism of muscle fatigue – quantitating the contribution of metabolic factors and activation impairment. Adv Exp Med Biol1995; 384: 195–210.10.1007/978-1-4899-1016-5_16Search in Google Scholar
8 Hagg GM. Interpretation of EMG spectral alterations and alteration indexes at sustained contraction. J Appl Physiol1992; 73: 1211–1217.10.1152/jappl.1992.73.4.1211Search in Google Scholar PubMed
9 Kent-Braun JA, Ng AV, Doyle JW, Towse TF. Human skeletal muscle responses vary with age and gender during fatigue due to incremental isometric exercise. J Appl Physiol2002; 93: 1813–1823.10.1152/japplphysiol.00091.2002Search in Google Scholar PubMed
10 Beliveau L, Helal JN, Gaillard E, van Hoecke J, Atlan G, Bouissou P. EMG spectral shift- and 31P-NMR-determined intracellular pH in fatigued human biceps brachii muscle. Neurology1991; 41: 1998–2001.10.1212/WNL.41.12.1998Search in Google Scholar PubMed
11 Vestergaard-Poulsen P, Thomsen C, Sinkjaer T, Henriksen O. Simultaneous 31P-NMR spectroscopy and EMG in exercising and recovering human skeletal muscle: a correlation study. J Appl Physiol1995; 79: 1469–1478.10.1152/jappl.1995.79.5.1469Search in Google Scholar PubMed
12 Rzanny R, Grassme R, Reichenbach JR, et al. Simultaneous surface electromyography (SEMG) and 31P-MR spectroscopy measurements of the lumbar back muscle during isometric exercise. J Neurosci Methods2004; 133: 143–152.10.1016/j.jneumeth.2003.10.006Search in Google Scholar PubMed
13 Miller RG, Kent-Braun JA, Sharma, KR, Weiner MW. Mechanism of human muscle fatigue quantitating the contribution of metabolic factors and activation impairment. In: Gandevia SC, editor. Fatigue: neural and muscular mechanisms: Proceedings of the Symposium on Neural and Neuromuscular Aspects of Muscular Fatigue, November 10–13, 1994, Miami, FL. New York: Plenum Press 1995: 195–210.Search in Google Scholar
14 Petroff OA, Prichard JW, Behar KL, Alger JR, den Hollander JA, Shulman RG. Cerebral intracellular pH by 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Neurology1985; 35: 781–788.10.1212/WNL.35.6.781Search in Google Scholar PubMed
15 Hancock CR, Brault JJ, Wiseman RW, Terjung RL, Meyer RA. 31P-NMR observation of free ADP during fatiguing, repetitive contractions of murine skeletal muscle lacking AK1. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol2005; 288: C1298–C1304.10.1152/ajpcell.00621.2004Search in Google Scholar PubMed
16 Bottomley PA, Weiss RG. Noninvasive localized MR quantification of creatine kinase metabolites in normal and infarcted canine myocardium. Radiology2001; 219: 411–418.10.1148/radiology.219.2.r01ma39411Search in Google Scholar PubMed
17 Wackerhage H, Hoffmann U, Essfeld D, Leyk D, Mueller K, Zange J. Recovery of free ADP, Pi, and free energy of ATP hydrolysis in human skeletal muscle. J Appl Physiol1998; 85: 2140–2145.10.1152/jappl.1998.85.6.2140Search in Google Scholar PubMed
18 Roussel M, Mattei JP, Le Fur Y, Ghattas B, Cozzone PJ, Bendahan D. Metabolic determinants of the onset of acidosis in exercising human muscle: a 31P-MRS study. J Appl Physiol2003; 94: 1145–1152.10.1152/japplphysiol.01024.2000Search in Google Scholar PubMed
19 Martin PA, Gibson H, Edwards RHT. MRS of muscle. In: Young IR, Charles HC, editors. MR spectroscopy: clinical applications and techniques. London: Martin Dunitz Ltd. 1996: 55–73.Search in Google Scholar
20 Bottomley PA. Spatial localization in NMR spectroscopy in vivo. Ann NY Acad Sci1987; 508: 333–348.10.1111/j.1749-6632.1987.tb32915.xSearch in Google Scholar PubMed
21 Frahm J, Bruhn H, Gyngell ML, Merboldt KD, Hanicke W, Sauter R. Localized high resolution proton NMR spectroscopy using stimulated echoes: initial applications to human brain in vivo. Magn Reson Med1989; 9: 79–93.10.1002/mrm.1910090110Search in Google Scholar PubMed
22 Bottomley PA. Noninvasive study of high-energy phosphate metabolism in human heart by depth-resolved 31P NMR spectroscopy. Science1985; 229: 769–772.10.1126/science.4023711Search in Google Scholar PubMed
23 Ackerman JJ, Grove TH, Wong GG, Gadian DG, Radda GK. Mapping of metabolites in whole animals by 31P NMR using surface coils. Nature1980; 283: 167–170.10.1038/283167a0Search in Google Scholar
24 Basmajian John V, DeLuca Carlo J, editors. Muscles alive: their functions revealed by electromyography. 5th ed. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins 1985.Search in Google Scholar
25 Farina D, Merletti R, Enoka RM. The extraction of neural strategies from the surface EMG. J Appl Physiol2004; 96: 1486–1495.10.1152/japplphysiol.01070.2003Search in Google Scholar
26 Kupa EJ, Roy SH, Kandarian SC, De Luca CJ. Effects of muscle fiber type and size on EMG median frequency and conduction velocity. J Appl Physiol1995; 79: 23–32.10.1152/jappl.1995.79.1.23Search in Google Scholar
27 Mannion AF, Dolan P. The effects of muscle length and force output on the EMG power spectrum of the erector spinae. J Electromyogr Kinesiol1996; 6: 159–168.10.1016/1050-6411(95)00028-3Search in Google Scholar
28 Houtman CJ, Stegeman DF, Van Dijk JP, Zwarts MJ. Changes in muscle fiber conduction velocity indicate recruitment of distinct motor unit populations. J Appl Physiol2003; 95: 1045–1054.10.1152/japplphysiol.00665.2002Search in Google Scholar PubMed
29 Luttmann A, Jäger M, Sökeland J, Laurig W. Joint analysis of a spectrum and amplitude (JASA) of electromyograms applied for the indication of muscular fatigue among surgeons in urology. In: Mital A, Krueger H, Kumar S, Menozzi M, Fernandez JE, editors. Advances in occupational ergonomics and safety. Cincinnati, OH: International Society for Occupational Ergonomics and Safety 1996: 523–528.Search in Google Scholar
30 Suzuki H, Conwit RA, Stashuk D, Santarsiero L, Metter EJ. Relationships between surface-detected EMG signals and motor unit activation. Med Sci Sports Exerc2002; 34: 1509–1517.10.1097/00005768-200209000-00018Search in Google Scholar PubMed
31 Sears TA, Stagg D. Short-term synchronization of intercostal motoneurone activity. J Physiol1976; 263: 357–381.10.1113/jphysiol.1976.sp011635Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central
32 De Luca CJ. The use of surface electromyography in biomechanics. J Appl Biomech1997; 13: 135–163.10.1123/jab.13.2.135Search in Google Scholar
33 Kleine BU, Stegeman DF, Mund D, Anders C. Influence of motoneuron firing synchronization on SEMG characteristics in dependence of electrode position. J Appl Physiol2001; 91: 1588–1599.10.1152/jappl.2001.91.4.1588Search in Google Scholar PubMed
34 Mortimer JT, Magnusson R, Petersen I. Conduction velocity in ischemic muscle: effect on EMG frequency spectrum. Am J Physiol1970; 219: 1324–1329.10.1152/ajplegacy.1970.219.5.1324Search in Google Scholar PubMed
35 Farina D, Gazzoni M, Camelia F. Conduction velocity of low-threshold motor units during ischemic contractions performed with surface EMG feedback. J Appl Physiol2005; 98: 1487–1494.10.1152/japplphysiol.01032.2004Search in Google Scholar
36 de Haan A, Lodder MA, Sargeant AJ. Influence of an active pre-stretch on fatigue of skeletal muscle. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol1991; 62: 268–273.10.1007/BF00571551Search in Google Scholar
37 Felblinger J, Slotboom J, Kreis R, Jung B, Boesch C. Restoration of electrophysiological signals distorted by inductive effects of magnetic field gradients during MR sequences. Magn Reson Med1999; 41: 715–721.10.1002/(SICI)1522-2594(199904)41:4<715::AID-MRM9>3.0.CO;2-7Search in Google Scholar
38 Rzanny R, Graßme R, Scholle HC, Rottenbach M, Reichenbach JR, Kaiser WA. Gradual loading of back muscles: analysis of simultaneously recorded 31P MR spectroscopy and SEMG parameters. In: Grieshaber R, Stadler M, Scholle HC, editors. Prävention von arbeitsbedingten Gesundheitsgefahren und Erkrankungen-11. Erfurter Tage. Jena: Verlag Dr. Bussert Stadler 2005: 349–354.Search in Google Scholar
39 Hostens I, Ramon H. Assessment of muscle fatigue in low level monotonous task performance during car driving. J Electromyogr Kinesiol2005; 15: 266–274.10.1016/j.jelekin.2004.08.002Search in Google Scholar
40 Seibt R, Bradel I. Oberflächenelektromyographische Echtzeit-Analysen. Technische Anforderungen und praktische Realisierung am Beispiel des Gerätes PS11-EMG. In: Grieshaber R, Schneider W, Scholle HC, editors. Prävention von arbeitsbedingten Gesundheitsgefahren und Erkrankungen-9. Erfurter Tage. Leipzig: Monade Verlag 2003: 286–316.Search in Google Scholar
41 Anders C, Schumann NP, Scholle HC, Witte H, Zwiener U. [Quantification of artefacts in surface EMG by validating the lower frequency limit in clinico-physiologic studies] EEG EMG Z Elektroenzephalogr Elektromyogr Verwandte Geb 1991; 22: 40–44.10.1055/s-2008-1060737Search in Google Scholar
©2006 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York
