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Electromyographic evaluation of back muscle fatigue with repeated sustained contractions of different strengths

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Summary

The aim of the study was to obtain information on changes in surface electromyograms from the lumbar erector spinae muscles during fatiguing isometric contractions. Four male subjects held different target extension forces to fatigue in a prone position under carefully controlled biomechanical conditions. Standard deviations of the distribution of EMG amplitudes (RMS values), autoregressive (AR) time series models of the 15th order and spectral densities were computed. At lower force levels, i. e., at about 50 to 100 Nm or 20–40% of estimated maximum voluntary contraction force (MVC), RMS values significantly decreased over time; at the highest level examined (on average 162 Nm), they increased. Over all force levels, the explained variances of AR models increased and mean power frequencies (MPF) decreased with increasing force. The first and second AR coefficients also exhibited significant changes, depending on both contraction time and strength. The AR time series structure of EMGs during short isometric test contractions at the lowest force level within 30 s after the failure point clearly indicated muscle fatigue and some differences remained in their dependence on the preceding force. The results suggest a concept of ‘selective fatigue’, and provide a basis for refined electromyographic evaluation of back muscle fatigue. Such an evaluation has to consider the force history preceding the failure point, or serious errors become unavoidable. The increase in RMS values does not constitute a criterion of back muscle fatigue at low force levels. AR time series models are recommended for the description of fatigue-induced electromyographic changes.

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Abbreviations

AR:

autoregressive

EMG:

electromyogram

EMG1:

EMG of a unilateral derivation at L3 level

EMG2:

EMG of a bilateral derivation at L3 level

EMG3:

EMG of a bilateral derivation at L5 level

EV:

explained variance

M1...M4:

four different levels of extension forces

MPF:

mean power frequency

MU:

motor unit

MUAP:

motor unit action potential

MVC:

maximum voluntary contraction force

P1...P10:

ten equal subsequent periods of the total contraction time normalized to its maximum

RMS values:

root mean square values or standard deviations of the distribution of amplitudes

SC:

sustained contraction

SEMG:

surface electromyogram

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department for Occupational Hygiene, Central Institute for Occupational Medicine of the GDR, Germany

    Helmut Seidel & Dieter Bräuer

  2. Medical Service of Transport and Communication, Germany

    Helga Beyer

Authors
  1. Helmut Seidel
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  2. Helga Beyer
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  3. Dieter Bräuer
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Seidel, H., Beyer, H. & Bräuer, D. Electromyographic evaluation of back muscle fatigue with repeated sustained contractions of different strengths. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 56, 592–602 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00635375

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00635375

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