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Temporal behavior of motor units action potential velocity under muscle fatigue conditions

Abstracts

Muscle fatigue, which is defined as the failure to maintain a required or expected force, has been investigated in both clinical and sports applications. On the investigation of muscle fatigue effects related to muscular control, surface electromyography (SEMG) has been the most common electrodiagnostic method, because some different parameters can be extracted from the EMG signal. Among the parameters, motor units action potential conduction velocity (MUAPCV) has been one of the most important, in spite of being usually detected through indwelling electrodes. Thus, the aim of this work was to estimate MUAPCV through SEMG, detecting its temporal behavior during isometric contractions until exhaustion. Eighteen students from EEFD/UFRJ (9 men and 9 women mean age 25.6 ± 6.8 years), right handed, consented to participate on this study. The EMG signals were collected from the right biceps braquii muscle through surface electrodes on 3 different levels of isometric contractions (25%, 50 e 75% of maximum load (ML)), which were divided into 3 periods that would define the beginning (P1), the middle (P2), and the end (P3) of the contraction. MUAPCV presented a temporal reduction with fatigue installation, showing a statistical difference among periods (p < 0.0001), comparing all the 3 loads. However, it was observed an abrupt decrease of MUAPCV at P3, mainly for 50 and 75% of ML. The results point out that MUAPCV must be quite sensible to pH reduction and changes on ionic concentrations, defined by blood supply decreases. Furthermore, the adaptations introduced on SEMG to MUAPCV estimation were considered satisfactory, reinforcing this method on electrodiagnostic evaluations.

Electromyography; Muscle fatigue; Motor unit action potential velocity


A fadiga muscular, definida como a incapacidade na manutenção de um nível esperado de força, tem sido amplamente investigada nas áreas clínica e desportiva. Na investigação dos efeitos da fadiga sobre a regulação da contração, a eletromiografia de superfície (SEMG) tem sido uma importante ferramenta eletrodiagnóstica, pois diferentes parâmetros de análise podem ser extraídos a partir do sinal de EMG. Dentre estes parâmetros, a velocidade de condução dos potenciais de ação das unidades motoras (VCPAUMs) tem sido uma variável importante neste tipo de avaliação, apesar de comumente ser detectada através de técnicas invasivas, mediante eletrodos de arame ou agulha. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar a VCPAUM através da SEMG, avaliando o seu comportamento temporal, em contrações isométricas realizadas até a exaustão. Dezoito voluntários (nove homens e nove mulheres; idade de 25,6 ± 6,8 anos), alunos da EEFD/UFRJ, consentiram em participar do estudo. Os sinais de EMG foram colhidos a partir do músculo bíceps braquial direito em três diferentes níveis (25%, 50 e 75% da carga máxima (CM)), sendo, então, divididos em três trechos, correspondentes ao tempo total gasto na tarefa, assim denominados: início (T1), meio (T2) e fim (T3). A VCPAUM apresentou redução temporal durante a passagem pelos trechos (p < 0,0001), comparando todas as cargas. Entretanto, foi observada uma queda abrupta da VCPAUM em T3, principalmente em 50 e 75% da CM (p < 0,05), quando comparadas com a carga de 25% da CM. Os resultados apontam que a VCPAUM sofre modificações na medida em que há uma redução no pH intracelular, fundamental na permeabilidade da membrana celular e que pode ser decorrente de uma diminuição no aporte sanguíneo, pelo aumento no tempo e no nível de contração. Além disso, a adaptação no uso da SEMG para a estimativa da VCPAUM mostrou a viabilidade no uso do método como ferramenta diagnóstica.

Eletromiografia; Fadiga muscular; Potencial de ação da fibra muscular


La fatiga muscular, definida como la capacidad del mantenimiento de un nivel esperado de fuerza, viene siendo ampliamente investigada en las áreas tanto clínica como deportiva. La investigación de los efectos de la fatiga sobre la regulación de la contracción, la electromiografía de superficie (SEMG) tiene una importancia como herramienta electrodiagnóstica por que los diferentes parámetros de análisis pueden ser extraídos de la señal de la EMG. Dentro de estos parámetros la velocidad de conducción de las potencias de acción de las unidades motoras (VCPAUMs) ha sido una variable importante en este tipo de evaluación, a pesar de que comunmente es detectada a través de técnicas invasivas, mediante electrodos de borne o aguja. Asi mismo, el objetivo de este trabajo fue estimar la VCPAUM a través de la SEMG, evaluando su comportamiento temporal, en contracciones isométricas realizadas hasta la extenuación. Dieciocho voluntarios (nueve hombres y nueve mujeres; de edades entre 25,6 ± 6,8 años), alumnos de la EEFD/UFRJ, aceptaron de participar en el estudio. Las señales de EMG se tomaron a partir del músculo bíceps braquial derecho en tres diferentes niveles (25%, 50 e 75% de la carga máxima (CM)), siendo, entonces, divididos en 3 trechos, correspondientes al tiempo total de gasto de la tarea, denominados: início (T1), medio (T2) y fin (T3). La VCPAUM presentó redución temporal durante el pasaje por los trechos (p < 0,0001), comparando todas las cargas. Entre tanto, se observó una queda abrupta de la VCPAUM en T3, principalmente en 50 e 75% de la CM (p < 0,05), cuando comparadas las cargas de 25% de la CM. Los resultados apuntan que la VCPAUM sufre modificaciones en la medida en que halla una reducción en el pH intracelular, fundamental en la permeabilidad de la membrana celular y que puede ser consecuencia de una diminución en el aporte sanguíneo, por el aumento en el tiempo y en el nivel de contracción. Además de eso, la adaptación del uso de la SEMG para la estimativa de la VCPAUM mostró una viabilidad en el uso del método como herramienta diagnóstica.

Eletromiografia; Fatiga muscular; Potencial de acción de la fibra muscular


ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Temporal behavior of motor units action potential velocity under muscle fatigue conditions

Comportamiento temporal de la velocidad de conducción de potencias de acción de las unidades motoras sobre condiciones de fatiga muscular

Marco Antonio Cavalcanti Garcia; José Magalhães; Luís Aureliano Imbiriba

Biomechanics Laboratory - EEFD/UFRJ

Correspondence Correspondence to Rua Maranhão, 305, casa 5 20720-230 - Rio de Janeiro, RJ E-mail: garcia@eefd.ufrj.br; marcoacg@unisys.com.br

ABSTRACT

Muscle fatigue, which is defined as the failure to maintain a required or expected force, has been investigated in both clinical and sports applications. On the investigation of muscle fatigue effects related to muscular control, surface electromyography (SEMG) has been the most common electrodiagnostic method, because some different parameters can be extracted from the EMG signal. Among the parameters, motor units action potential conduction velocity (MUAPCV) has been one of the most important, in spite of being usually detected through indwelling electrodes. Thus, the aim of this work was to estimate MUAPCV through SEMG, detecting its temporal behavior during isometric contractions until exhaustion. Eighteen students from EEFD/UFRJ (9 men and 9 women mean age 25.6 ± 6.8 years), right handed, consented to participate on this study. The EMG signals were collected from the right biceps braquii muscle through surface electrodes on 3 different levels of isometric contractions (25%, 50 e 75% of maximum load (ML)), which were divided into 3 periods that would define the beginning (P1), the middle (P2), and the end (P3) of the contraction. MUAPCV presented a temporal reduction with fatigue installation, showing a statistical difference among periods (p < 0.0001), comparing all the 3 loads. However, it was observed an abrupt decrease of MUAPCV at P3, mainly for 50 and 75% of ML. The results point out that MUAPCV must be quite sensible to pH reduction and changes on ionic concentrations, defined by blood supply decreases. Furthermore, the adaptations introduced on SEMG to MUAPCV estimation were considered satisfactory, reinforcing this method on electrodiagnostic evaluations.

Key words: Electromyography. Muscle fatigue. Motor unit action potential velocity.

RESUMEN

La fatiga muscular, definida como la capacidad del mantenimiento de un nivel esperado de fuerza, viene siendo ampliamente investigada en las áreas tanto clínica como deportiva. La investigación de los efectos de la fatiga sobre la regulación de la contracción, la electromiografía de superficie (SEMG) tiene una importancia como herramienta electrodiagnóstica por que los diferentes parámetros de análisis pueden ser extraídos de la señal de la EMG. Dentro de estos parámetros la velocidad de conducción de las potencias de acción de las unidades motoras (VCPAUMs) ha sido una variable importante en este tipo de evaluación, a pesar de que comunmente es detectada a través de técnicas invasivas, mediante electrodos de borne o aguja. Asi mismo, el objetivo de este trabajo fue estimar la VCPAUM a través de la SEMG, evaluando su comportamiento temporal, en contracciones isométricas realizadas hasta la extenuación. Dieciocho voluntarios (nueve hombres y nueve mujeres; de edades entre 25,6 ± 6,8 años), alumnos de la EEFD/UFRJ, aceptaron de participar en el estudio. Las señales de EMG se tomaron a partir del músculo bíceps braquial derecho en tres diferentes niveles (25%, 50 e 75% de la carga máxima (CM)), siendo, entonces, divididos en 3 trechos, correspondientes al tiempo total de gasto de la tarea, denominados: início (T1), medio (T2) y fin (T3). La VCPAUM presentó redución temporal durante el pasaje por los trechos (p < 0,0001), comparando todas las cargas. Entre tanto, se observó una queda abrupta de la VCPAUM en T3, principalmente en 50 e 75% de la CM (p < 0,05), cuando comparadas las cargas de 25% de la CM. Los resultados apuntan que la VCPAUM sufre modificaciones en la medida en que halla una reducción en el pH intracelular, fundamental en la permeabilidad de la membrana celular y que puede ser consecuencia de una diminución en el aporte sanguíneo, por el aumento en el tiempo y en el nivel de contracción. Además de eso, la adaptación del uso de la SEMG para la estimativa de la VCPAUM mostró una viabilidad en el uso del método como herramienta diagnóstica.

Palabras-clave: Eletromiografia. Fatiga muscular. Potencial de acción de la fibra muscular.

INTRODUCTION

Muscle fatigue, which is defined as the failure to maintain a required or expected force(1-3), has been investigated in both clinical and sports applications. To understand the mechanisms involving the muscle contraction and regulation under fatigue conditions is very important as it is unchained by a series of factors such as the type of muscle involved, contraction duration, overload level and type of task performed(3,4).

In the investigation of the fatigue effects on the control standards of the muscle contraction, the electromyography (EMG) has been the most employed electrodiagnostic technique and among the information extracted from the myoelectric signal, the amplitude temporal behavior is obtained by its average square root (RMS value) and in the frequency domain, the average frequencies (AF) and median (MF) are obtained with emphasis for the second one in function of its statistic characteristics(5). Besides these variables, the muscular fibres action potential propagation velocity (MFAPCV) has also allowed the performance of several observations with regard to changes on the sarcolemma permeability in function of the metabolites accumulation and consequently on its properties in relation to the MUAP propagation(2,6).

In the investigation of the MFAPCV behavior, needle electrodes are introduced into the muscle, an invasive methods that brings higher precision to the monitoring of alteration as result of the fatigue process(7-10). However, despite the fact that the invasive method brings higher methodological quality to procedure and higher reliability of information collected, needle electrodes also bring higher discomfort to patients or athletes when applied, higher costs and the requirement of tests of higher complexity. With the objective of solving such problems, different proposals are presented in literature for the estimation of the motor units action potential conduction velocity (MUAPCV) through surface electromyography (SEMG), where surface electrodes adapted for such purpose are used(6,11,12). However, it is suggested that these electrodes, defined from a large number of small bars composed of silver and which dimensions may reach 1 mm of thickness and 5 mm of length, be series-configured and incrusted in plates specially constructed for this task(5).

The main justification with regard to the use of this special type of electrode is defined by a lower noise receiving and a better EMG signal spatial resolution(5,11).

So, the use of regularly commercialized electrodes constructed and adapted for this type of measure is required, what, still, presents high cost, impairing the access to the use of this technique.

Despite the non-invasive feature, the SEMG requires a higher computational processing for the estimation of the MFAPCV, once the electrodes will be receiving the algebraic sum of the muscle fibres action potential, thus representing the EMG raw signal(13). Still, it has been demonstrated through the utilization of electrodes configured for this purpose as previously discussed, the effectiveness on the MUAPCV estimation through SEMG in different application conditions, except for those that demand dynamic contractions(11).

In this context, the objective of this work was to estimate the motor units action potential conduction velocity (MUAPCV), determining its temporal behavior under different muscle contraction levels until fatigue by means of the application of this technique, in other words, through simple adhesive surface electrodes.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Eighteen students from the EEFD/UFRJ graduation course volunteered for the composition of the sample, being nine males and nine females (25.6 ± 6.8 years of age), right handed with no lesion history of the upper limbs muscle-skeletal system. All volunteers received orientation about procedures to be adopted and signed a consent form to participate in this study (project registered under number 125/03), approved and submitted to the Ethics Committee - HUCFF/UFRJ.

The acquisition system was composed of a computer (Pentium - 200 MHz), an analogical-digital converter (DaqPad 1200 - NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS, USA) with 12 bits and dynamic range of ± 5 V. For signals receiving, a system with cables with amplifier developed in the EEFD/UFRJ Biomechanics Laboratory was used, with frequency range limited between 10 and 500 Hz and total gain of 1000, according to norms of the European Recommendations for Surface Electromyography(5). The signals acquisition and processing programs as well as the programs developed for the performance of power tests were elaborated in LabVIEW (NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS, USA). Ag-AgCl surface electrodes (Meditrace® 200 - KENDALL, Canada) were used for the acquisition of the EMG signals. The sampling frequency adopted was 2 kHz.

For the performance of the fatigue tests, a mechanical device for the support of the right upper limb was developed and a dynamometry system with individual adjustment of height and distance in relation to the right shoulder articulation was used (figure 1). During the performance of the tests, each volunteer remained sitting with hip and knee articulation inflected at approximately 90º and the upper limb positioned according to figure 1.


The experimental protocol was composed of a maximal load test (ML) with duration of 5 s that preceded the signals collecting stage. The percentile loads employed during the fatigue tests were calculated from the maximal load reached as follows: 25%, 50% and 75% of the ML. The tests were performed in 3 different days with minimal interval of 48 h. Each test consisted of isometric contractions maintained until exhaustion by means of visual feedback with the aid of a computer monitor (figure 1) for each load employed in random order. The computer monitor remained at a distance of approximately 75 cm from the volunteer, being only adjusted vertically.

The acquisition of the power signals and EMG was defined from the beginning of the contraction and interrupted when the force could no longer be maintained in approximately 30% of the preestablished load.

Before the application of the electrodes, the area was trichotomized with razor blade and cleaned with neutral soap. The electrodes were applied on the ventral region of the right biceps braquii muscle, according to protocol suggested by Hermens et al.(5). However, for the calculation of MUAPCV, the protocol was modified for the application of a third electrode. The distance between the acromium and the cubital tunnel was measured and the first electrode applied at 1/3 from this last one. The other two electrodes were applied on the line projection between the anatomical points used as reference (figure 2). The reference electrode was applied on the humerus medial epicondylis.


For the estimation of the MUAPCV through surface electrodes, the method suggested by Nishizono et al.(11) was used. From the crossed correlation test between both signals received (channels 1 and 2), obtained from windows of length L, arbitrarily defined as equal to 2000 samples and equivalent to 1 second of signal and identifying the crossed correlation vector element index that present the maximal value of ICmax, it is possible to calculate MUAPCV through equation 1.

Where,

D is the distance between the electrodes, equal to 3 cm;

SR is the sampling rate, equal to 2000 samples/s;

W is the window of 2000 samples.

For a better understanding of the procedure adopted, the estimation of MUAPCV is presented below (figure 3) through simulated signals and window W of size equal to 500 samples.


As previously discussed, the MUAPCV was calculated from each second of signal, resulting in a data temporal series which sizes present differences between subjects. These differences occurred in function of times spent with the maintenance of the contraction in each situation tested until exhaustion. Therefore, for statistical treatment effects and results presentation, it was arbitrarily opted to subdivide each valid temporal series into 3 different equidistant periods with duration of 5 seconds each. The valid temporal series was defined as all signal period referent to the maintenance of the contraction, in other words, to the maintenance of the force up to 15% below the target load (figure 4). Thus, each test resulted in 3 periods that best represented the initial (P1), intermediate (P2) and final (P3) behaviors of all experiment (figure 4). For the selection of the periods, the following method was adopted: P1 was defined as the 5 initial seconds; P2 defined as the 2 seconds anterior and posterior to the median, also included, from the valid period of the temporal series and P3 defined as the 5 final seconds. Later, the average of each period was calculated and only three reference values of the MUAPCV were verified for each subject for each one of the loads analyzed. In the analysis of data, comparisons between periods (initial (P1), intermediate (P2) and final (P3)) and between loads (25%, 50% and 75% of the ML) were performed through the application of the two-way ANOVA for repeated measures and Tukey's post-hoc test with significant level (a) equal to 0.05. The analysis of data was performed through the statistical package STATISTICA® 6.0 (StatSoft, USA).


RESULTS

Table 1 presents the average times spent in each load applied in the fatigue tests, reflecting the effort intensity.

When we compare periods P1, P2 and P3 between the different CVM percentile levels, no significant difference was observed for factor "load" (F(2.51) = 0.804; p = 0.45), but observed between periods (F(2.102) = 34.36; p < 0.0001) as well as a significant interaction between these two factors (F(4.102) = 2.63; p = 0.03). The Tukey's post-hoc analysis showed that when the period P3 was compared between loads, a significant difference between 25% and 50% (p = 0.04) and 25% and 75% (p = 0.01) of the ML was observed, resulting in significant drop of the MUAPCV at the final phases in these loads. This kind of behavior is corroborated by some results found in literature(3,12,15). Some of these works support the idea that the drop rate of the MUAPCV is determined by the load level (LL) applied and by the contraction maintenance time (CMT) (table 1); important variables in control conditions of the muscle fiber membrane permeability that will influence the propagation of the action potentials(3,16), as already discussed. On the other hand, when loads of 50% and 75% of the ML were compared in this same period (P3), no significant difference was observed (p > 0.05) (figure 5).


DISCUSSION

The method proposed based on the use of simple adhesive surface electrodes for the estimation of MUAPCV allowed distinguishing satisfactorily the temporal behavior of this variable under different muscle contraction levels until exhaustion. Respecting norms with regard to the electrodes application, the method suggested presented advantages and simplicity that allows its reproduction at low costs, besides the application of a method for the calculation of the MUAPCV well described by literature and feasible from the computational point of view. However, once it does not deal about an invasive method, making use of the adaptation of a known method, the appraiser should be clear-sighted with regard to the protocol of the electrodes application, mainly respecting the distance between them.

The decreasing temporal behavior between periods P1, P2 and P3 may be attributed to changes as result of a change on the intracellular pH due to the growth of ions H+, what would influence the functioning of the Na+-K+ pumps and consequently the membrane permeability of the muscular cell. This process would cause, in turn, an unbalance on the concentration of these ions, leading to a decrease on the MUAPCV(3,16). The literature also emphasize that the variable CMT would contribute for the installation of the fatigue, mainly after half of the total time spent in the task(15), what could justify the MUAPCV behavior in periods P1 and P2 isolated, where no significant differences were observed between loads (figure 5). In this case, it is supposed that the variable TCM, considering periods P1 and P2, would have been sufficient to modify, only partly and therefore, not significantly, the permeability properties of the muscular fiber membrane.

With regard to the MUAPCV behavior at 50 and 75% of the ML, the results point to a worsening in the condition resulting of pH alterations previously discussed in function of the increase on NC, narrowing the blood flow even more and, therefore, the control of the metabolites growth(17,18). The literature also reinforces the hypothesis that these cascade-type alterations would cause changes on the coupling process between myofilaments due to the incapacity of the sarcoplasmic reticule to release ions Ca2+ inside the muscular fiber, also involving the contractile mechanics, leading to a drop on the force production capacity(17,19).

Another hypothesis establishes that the higher the NC and CMT are, the lower the blood perfusion capacity will be that, up to approximately 30% of the ML is still sufficient to avoid the rapid emergence of an ischemic situation in the tissue. Thus, it still would be possible to establish a balance, even not prolonged, at the intracellular pH level(15,20). This theory meets what is observed at 25% of the ML, where no significant difference was found between periods, presenting no significant temporal drop in MUAPCV. On the other hand, Farina et al.(11), when estimated the MUAPCV of the anterior tibia muscle, found temporal decline of this variable with the maintenance of the isometric contractions in loads of 25% of the ML. Thus, it is suggested that the difference would lie on the fact that, despite the utilization of the verbal stimulus, part of the volunteers did not reach CMTs above values reached by some of the volunteers (above 3 minutes and a half), result also reflected in high standard deviation, equal to 113 seconds. It is believed that the high variability in the CMT at 25% of the ML may have occurred in function of the position suggested for the performance of tests that, for some volunteers, was defined as uncomfortable and, therefore, interrupted the test for not reaching an exhaustion condition, but rather for the discomfort with regard to the position adopted (figure 1).

Other variable considered as important but not evaluated is the motivation. It is important in the performance of different tasks, especially in long-duration tests and the hypothesis that it has influenced the results found at 25% of the ML is not rejected. Studies involving motivational aspects have been conducted with the objective of better understanding the mechanisms that act on endurance tasks, similar to those discussed in the present work(2,3).

CONCLUSION

Some works have reported the importance of the MUAPCV as indicative of muscular fatigue when peripheral mechanisms are involved(11) and that it is possible to be measured through surface electrodes especially developed for this task. In the present work, an adaptation in the use of simple adhesive surface electrodes for the estimation of the MUAPCV was presented. These electrodes demonstrated to be of easy handling, low cost and the results obtained in the MUAPCV calculation were in agreement with those found in literature(2,14,21,22). We are convinced that this methodology is practical and simple in the evaluation of this variable, important in the diagnosis and follow-up of pathological or non-pathological processes, which lead muscle to the fatigue condition.

REFERENCES

Received in 3/9/03. 2nd version received in 1/5/04. Approved in 6/5/04

All the authors declared there is not any potential conflict of interests regarding this article.

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  • Correspondence to
    Rua Maranhão, 305, casa 5
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  • Publication Dates

    • Publication in this collection
      09 Nov 2004
    • Date of issue
      Aug 2004

    History

    • Accepted
      06 May 2004
    • Received
      03 Sept 2003
    • Reviewed
      01 May 2004
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