Amitava Halder

Effects of Cooling on Ankle Muscle Strength, Electromyography, and Gait Ground Reaction Forces

The effects of cooling on neuromuscular function and performance during gait are not fully examined. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of local cooling for 20 min in cold water at 10°C in a climate chamber also at 10°C on maximal isometric force and electromyographic (EMG) activity of the lower leg muscles. Gait ground reaction forces (GRFs) were also assessed. Sixteen healthy university students participated in the within subject design experimental study. Isometric forces of the tibialis anterior (TA) and the gastrocnemius medialis (GM) were measured using a handheld dynamometer and the EMG was recorded using surface electrodes. Ground reaction forces during gait and the required coefficient of friction (RCOF) were recorded using a force plate. There was a significantly reduced isometric maximum force in the TA muscle (P < 0.001) after cooling. The mean EMG amplitude of GM muscle was increased after cooling (P < 0.003), indicating that fatigue was induced. We found no significant changes in the gait GRFs and RCOF on dry and level surface. These findings may indicate that local moderate cooling 20 min of 10°C cold water, may influence maximal muscle performance without affecting activities at sub-maximal effort.

Standing balance on inclined surfaces with different friction

Working and walking environments often involve standing positions on different surfaces with inclination and different friction. In this study, standing balance of thirteen participants during sudden and irregular external perturbation to calf muscles was investigated. The aim of the study was to evaluate the combined effect of surface inclination and friction on standing balance. The main findings when eyes closed revealed that the standing utilised coefficient of friction (μSUCOF) increased when the surface was inclined for both high and low friction materials. The anterior-posterior torque increased more anteriorly when the surface was inclined toes down and when the surface friction was low. The results indicate that the anterior-posterior torque is a sensitive parameter when evaluating standing balance ability and slip risk. On inclined surface, particularly on the surface with lower friction, the potential slip and fall risk is higher due to the increase of standing utilised coefficient of friction and increased forward turning torque.

Oxygen uptake and muscle activity limitations during stepping on a stair machine at three different climbing speeds

This laboratory study examined human stair ascending capacity and constraining factors including legs’ local muscle fatigue (LMF) and cardiorespiratory capacity. Twenty-five healthy volunteers, mean age 35.3 years, with maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) of 46.7 mL·min ·kg, and maximal heart rate of 190 bpm, ascended on a stair machine at 60% and 75% (3 min each), and 90% of VO2max (5 min or until exhaustion). The VO2, HR and electromyography (EMG) of the leg muscles were measured. The average VO2highest reached 43.9 mL·min ·kg, and HRhighest peaked at 185 bpm at 90% of VO2max step rate (SR). EMG amplitudes significantly increased at all three levels, p<0.05, and median frequencies decreased mostly at 90% of VO2max SR evidencing leg LMF. Muscle activity interpretation squares were developed and effectively used to observe changes over time, confirming LMF. The combined effects of LMF and cardiorespiratory constraints reduced ascending tolerance and constrained the duration to 4.32 minutes. Practitioner Summary To expedite ascending evacuation from high-rise buildings and deep underground structures, it is necessary to consider human physical load. This study investigated the limiting physiological factors and muscle activity rate changes (MARC) used in the muscle activity interpretation squares (MAIS) to evaluate leg local muscle fatigue (LMF). LMF and cardiorespiratory capacity significantly constrain human stair ascending capacities at high, constant step rates.Abstract This laboratory study examined human stair ascending capacity and constraining factors including legs’ local muscle fatigue (LMF) and cardiorespiratory capacity. Twenty-five healthy volunteers, with mean age 35.3 years, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) of 46.7 mL·min−1·kg−1 and maximal heart rate (HR) of 190 bpm, ascended on a stair machine at 60 and 75% (3 min each) and 90% of VO2max (5 min or until exhaustion). The VO2, maximal heart rate (HRmax) and electromyography (EMG) of the leg muscles were measured. The average VO2highest reached 43.9 mL·min−1·kg−1, and HRhighest peaked at 185 bpm at 90% of VO2max step rate (SR). EMG amplitudes significantly increased at all three levels, p < .05, and median frequencies decreased mostly at 90% of VO2max SR evidencing leg LMF. Muscle activity interpretation squares were developed and effectively used to observe changes over time, confirming LMF. The combined effects of LMF and cardiorespiratory constraints reduced ascending tolerance and constrained the duration to 4.32 min. Practitioner Summary: To expedite ascending evacuation from high-rise buildings and deep underground structures, it is necessary to consider human physical load. This study investigated the limiting physiological factors and muscle activity rate changes (MARC) used in the muscle activity interpretation squares (MAIS) to evaluate leg local muscle fatigue (LMF). LMF and cardiorespiratory capacity significantly constrain human stair ascending capacities at high, constant step rates.

The colder is warmer? A pre-study for wear trials of a reference clothing ensemble for EN 342 and EN 14058 for thermal manikin calibration

Two sets of calibration ensembles for thermal manikins are available at present for EN 342 (and 14058). These 2 sets are not fully enough as: a) statistically, 2 points give an ideal regression line that does not need to be correct for extended range; b) they do cover an insulation range of only EN 14058 and the lower end of EN 342 - the insulation range of very cold and extremely cold exposures (below -5 °C), that is the main concern of EN 342, is not covered. The aims of the pre-test were to: a) settle the preliminary test conditions; b) test the equipment in extreme cold (down to -40 °C); c) suggest a metabolic rate for testing.

Effects of cooling on muscle function and duration of stance phase during gait

Introduction: Cold exposure alters muscular function. Muscle cooling influences the neuromuscular activation during maximal isometric voluntary contractions (MVC) and the amplitude of surface electromyography (sEMG) [1],[2]. It also slows down the mechanical process during contraction [3]. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of local cooling in cold water at 10 °C for 20 min in a climate chamber on lower leg muscle activity and gait pattern. Methods: Sixteen healthy adults (eight females), aged Mean (SD) 27.0(2.9) years; body mass 66.3(9.8) kg; and height 169.5(7.8) cm participated in this experimental study. The median frequency (MF) and mean power frequency (MPF) of sEMG from tibialis anterior (TA) and gastrocnemius medialis (GM) muscles during MVC in ankle planter (PF) and dorsi-flexion (DF) against a hand-held dynamometer as well as contact times on a force plate during gait before and after cooling were measured and analysed. Results: The MF and MPF were significantly lower (P<0.01*) in both TA and GM muscle during MVC and in TA during gait trials after cooling. However, the frequency analysis for GM muscle showed no significant difference (P=0.46 and 0.06, respectively) either in MF or MPF during walking on level surface (table 1). Table 1: The means and SD (Hz) for the MF and MPF of the TA and GM during gait and MVC trials before and after cooling (N=16). sEMG Tibialis Anterior (TA) Gastrocnemius Medialis GM Pre Cooling Post Cooling Pre Cooling Post Cooling Gait MF 83.0±10.2* 69.9±9.6* 81.6±12.6 79.3±11.1 Gait MPF 99.7±11.5* 82.3±11.7* 99.8±13.2 93.2±12.4 MVC MF 87.0±9.7* 50.0±6.1* 111.7±16.7* 90.8±14.8* MVC MPF 100.7±10.6* 59.8±7.7* 129.1±15.3* 101.0±16.1* Fig 1: Duration of stance phase in gait trials. Additionally, the post cooling stance phase over the force plate was significantly (P= 0.013) longer than pre-cooling. Discussion: The significant time difference might be caused by the cold induced MF and MPF decrease in sEMG. Our previous investigation reported that cooling increased the sEMG amplitude and produced fatigue like responses in the leg muscles [2]. Moreover, other studies showed that muscle fatigue resulted in electromechanical delay during cold exposure [1], [4]. Conclusion: Moderate degree and duration of cooling may affect muscle motor unit firing rates, thus shifting the sEMG spectrum to lower frequencies, therefore decreasing the leg muscle force production. The result suggests that muscle cooling can cause cold induced frequency decrease in sEMG similar to fatigue response and lead to reduced muscle performance. References: 1. Ce, E., Rampichini, S., Agnello, L., Limonta, E., Veicsteinas, A., & Esposito, F. (2013). Effects of temperature and fatigue on the electromechanical delay components. Muscle & Nerve, 47(4), 566-576. doi:10.1002/mus.23627. 2. Halder A, Gao C, Miller M. (2014). Effects of cooling on ankle muscle maximum performances, gait ground reaction forces and electromyography. Journal of Sports Medicine.doi:10.1155/2014/520124. 3. Drinkwater, E. (2008). Effects of peripheral cooling on characteristics of local muscle. Medicine and Sport Science, 5374-88. doi:10.1159/000151551. 4. Rampichini, S., Ce, E., Limonta, E., & Esposito, F. (2014). Effects of fatigue on the electromechanical delay components in gastrocnemius medialis muscle. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 114(3), 639-651. doi:10.1007/s00421-013-2790-9.

Cold-induced vasodilation during continuous exercise in the extreme cold air (-30.6 °c)

Cold induced vasodilation (CIVD) in previous studies was mostly evoked by cold water immersion at 0, 5, and 8 °C of the upper or lower extremities without performing physical work [1]. A limited number of investigations incorporated intermittent exercises during cold air exposure [2]. Literature has documented that the CIVD occurrence depended on the body core temperature [2], [3]. It was observed that CIVD in cold water immersion was highly variable across the fingers and was not a generalizable response across fingers or toes [4]. However, the number of studies on cold air induced vasodilation in the extremely cold is limited. The objective of this study was to investigate individual variations of finger CIVD in relation to the core and mean skin temperatures during continuous exercise in the extreme cold air (-30.6 °C).