Int J Sports Med 2009; 30(6): 408-417
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1112142
Physiology & Biochemistry

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Myoelectric Fatigue Profiles of Three Knee Extensor Muscles

A. Botter 1 , F. Lanfranco 2 , R. Merletti 1 , M. A. Minetto 1 , 2
  • 1Laboratory for Engineering of the Neuromuscular System, Department of Electronics, Polytechnic of Turin, Turin, Italy
  • 2Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Turin, Molinette Hospital, Turin, Italy
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision November 20, 2008

Publication Date:
06 February 2009 (online)

Abstract

Aims of the present study were to: 1) investigate the differences between the myoelectric fatigue profiles of the vasti muscles of the quadriceps during electrically evoked contractions; 2) compare the myoelectric fatigue profiles of the vasti muscles between sedentary subjects and rowers; 3) analyze motor unit activation order during stimulation of the vasti muscles. In nine sedentary subjects and nine rowers surface EMG signals were detected during electrically elicited contractions of the following three muscles: vastus medialis obliquus (VMO), vastus lateralis (VL), and vastus medialis longus (VML). M-waves were recorded as the muscles were stimulated with both variable (increasing-decreasing) and constant stimulation intensities. Changes in M-wave conduction velocity (CV) during trains with non-constant current were adopted for the study of the motor unit recruitment order. Rates of change of myoelectric signal variables were adopted to assess myoelectric manifestations of fatigue during stimulation trains with constant current. We found that: 1) VL muscle was more fatigable than vastus medialis muscles; 2) VL and VML muscles of rowers resulted less fatigable than sedentary subjects; and 3) in the three muscles, motor units tended to be recruited in order of increasing CV and derecruited in order of decreasing CV with increasing/decreasing stimulation current.

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Correspondence

Dr. M. A. MinettoMD 

Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism

Department of Internal Medicine

University of Turin

Molinette Hospital

Corso Dogliotti 14

10126 Turin

Italy

Phone: +39/011/433 04 76

Fax: +39/011/433 04 04

Email: marcominetto@libero.it

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