J.H. van Dieën

Trunk extensor endurance and its relationship to electromyogram parameters

SummaryThe present study was designed to investigate the relationship between muscle performance and electromyogram (EMG) parameters of the trunk extensor muscles in the development of fatigue. Nine subjects performed continuous isometric trunk extensions at 25% and 40% maximal voluntary contraction. The EMG signals of the longissimus thoracis, iliocostalis lumborum, multifidus and latissimus dorsi muscles were recorded. The EMG amplitude (RA-EMG) appeared to increase consistently during the contractions in all muscles, whereas the mean power frequency (MPF) showed a fairly consistent decrease during the contractions. The time constants of the exponential change of the RA-EMG and of the MPF were related to the endurance time. The prediction of endurance based on both EMG parameters appeared to yield better results than the prediction based on the relative force. In particular the time constants of the MPF changes of the multifidus and longissimus muscles appeared to be good predictors of endurance time. The consistency of the spectrum shift of EMG appeared to coincide with a reduced variability of the activation of the muscle involved.

The electro-mechanical delay of the erector spinae muscle: influence of rate of force development, fatigue and electrode location

SummaryElectro-mechanical delay (EMD) values of the erector spinae muscle were obtained using a technique based on the cross-correlation between the force and the electromyogram (EMG). Seven subjects performed a series of 20 submaximal dynamic isometric contractions in a seated position at two frequencies (0.5 Hz and 1 Hz) to study the influence of the rate of force development on EMD. Mean EMD values of 125.7 (SD 28.1) ms (1 Hz) and 136.8 (SD 28.6) ms (0.5 Hz) were shown to differ significantly (P=0.02). This finding supports the hypothesis that EMD is inversely related to the rate of force development and implies that the time to stretch the series elastic component is an important factor determining EMD. After performing a series of fatiguing contractions EMD did not differ significantly from the control value. Multiple regression analysis showed that maximal voluntary contraction force (MVC) and endurance time of the fatiguing exercise correlated significantly with EMD. The site from which the EMG signal was recorded had no significant influence on EMD. However, the coefficient of correlation between force and the EMG-signal differed significantly between electrode positions. The magnitude of the EMD values found emphasized the need to account for this delay when interpreting temporal patterns of activation of the muscles in, for example, lifting tasks.

Spectral analysis of erector spinae EMG during intermittent isometric fatiguing exercise

The applicability of EMG spectral analysis in the study of muscular fatigue of the erector spinae muscle was investigated. At three locations (L1, L2, L5) of the erector spinae muscle, representing different functional parts, EMG was sampled during fatiguing intermittent isometric extension of the trunk. The multifidus muscle (L5) appeared to show the most consistent changes of the EMG power spectrum as a consequence of fatigue. Whether the effects of the increase in muscle temperature on the power spectrum could be eliminated by low-pass filtering the data (60 Hz and 40 Hz) was also investigated. It was expected that this would make it possible to detect better the effects of fatigue on the firing characteristics of the motorunits by the inherent changes in the power spectrum. Low-pass filtering did not cause a more significant trend of the median frequency of the power spectrum. Future research will have to explore which parts of the power spectrum are affected by an increase of the muscle temperature.

The influence of torque and velocity on erector spinae muscle fatigue and its relationship to changes of electromyogram spectrum density

The influence of contraction force and velocity during isokinetic contractions on the development of fatigue in the erector spinae muscle was studied. Seven male subjects performed a series of 250 contractions at 25% and 50% of their isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) at 40 and 80°·s−1. Fatigue defined as a decrease of the contractile capacity of the muscles was studied by means of a 15-s maximal test-contraction following the exercise. Both the initial force and the force decrement during the test-contraction were studied. Surface electromyogram (EMG) signals of the main tracts of the erector spinae muscle were recorded. The frequency content was studied by calculating the zero-crossing rate for the signals obtained during dynamic contractions and by means of fast Fourier transformation for the test contraction. After the 50% MVC dynamic contractions the initial force during the postexercise test-contraction was significantly lower than after the 25% MVC contractions. No significant influence of contraction velocity on fatigue development was found. The force decrement during the test-contraction did not depend on the experimental conditions. The EMG amplitude indicated that the subjects were better able to relax their muscles during the counter movement (flexion) at high forces and high velocities compared to the other experimental conditions. The frequency content of the EMG signals during the dynamic contractions and the postexercise test-contraction showed only very weak relationships with fatigue. Therefore, spectrum EMG parameters as determined in the present study do not seem suitable as indicators of muscle fatigue as a consequence of dynamic contractions of trunk extensor muscles.

An EMG technique for measuring spinal loading during asymmetric lifting

OBJECTIVES To compare two methods of calibrating the erector spinae electromyographic signal against moment generation in order to predict extensor moments during asymmetric lifting tasks, and to compare the predicted moments with those obtained using a linked-segment model. METHODS Eight men lifted loads of 6.7 and 15.7 kg at two speeds, in varying amounts of trunk rotation. For each lift, the following were recorded at 60 Hz; the rectified and averaged surface electromyographic signal, bilaterally at T10 and L3, lumbar curvature using the 3-Space Isotrak, movement of body segments using a 4-camera Vicon system, and ground reaction forces using a Kistler force-plate. Electromyographic (EMG) and Isotrak data were used to calculate lumbosacral extensor moments using the electromyographic model, whereas movement analysis data and ground reaction forces were used to estimate net moments using the linked-segment model. For the electromyographic technique, predictions of extensor moment were based on two different sets of EMG-extensor moment calibrations: one performed in pure sagittal flexion and the other in flexion combined with 45 degrees of trunk rotation. RESULTS Extensor moments predicted by the electromyographic technique increased significantly with load and speed of lifting but were not influenced by the method of calibration. These moments were 7-40%greater than the net moments obtained with the linked-segment model, the difference increasing with load and speed. CONCLUSIONS The calibration method does not influence extensor moments predicted by the electromyographic technique in asymmetric lifting, suggesting that simple, sagittal-plane calibrations are adequate for this purpose. Differences in predicted moments between the electromyographic technique and linked-segment model may be partly due to different anthropometric assumptions and different amounts of smoothing and filtering in the two models, and partly due to antagonistic muscle forces, the effects of which cannot be measured by linked-segment models. RelevanceAsymmetric lifting is a significant risk factor for occupationally-related low back pain. Improved techniques for measuring spinal loading during such complex lifting tasks may help to identify work practices which place the spine at risk of injury.