The effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on muscle EMG activity and the initial phase rate of force development during tetanic contractions in the knee extensor muscles of healthy adult males

Ten young men sustained an isometric contraction of the knee extensor muscles at 20% of the maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) torque on three separate occasions in a seated posture. Subjects performed an isometric knee extension contraction on a fourth occasion in a supine posture. The time to task failure for the seated posture was similar across sessions (291 ± 84 s; P > 0.05), and the MVC torque was similarly reduced across sessions after the fatiguing contraction (42 ± 12%). The rate of increase in electromyograph (EMG) activity (%MVC) and torque fluctuations during the fatiguing contractions were similar across sessions. However, the rate of increase in EMG differed among the knee extensor muscles: the rectus femoris began at a greater amplitude (31.5 ± 11.0%) compared with the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis muscles (18.8 ± 5.3%), but it ended at a similar value (45.4 ± 3.1%). The time to task failure and increase in EMG activity were similar for the seated and supine tasks; however, the reduction in MVC torque was greater for the seated posture. These findings indicate that the time to task failure for the knee extensor muscles that have a common tendon insertion did not alter over repeat sessions as had been observed for the elbow flexor muscles (Hunter SK and Enoka RM. J Appl Physiol 94: 108-118, 2003).

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Comparison of Recovery Strategies on Maximal Force-Generating Capacity and Electromyographic Activity Level of the Knee Extensor Muscles

Journal of Athletic Training ◽

10.4085/1062-6050-46.4.386 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 46 (4) ◽

pp. 386-394 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Nidhal Zarrouk ◽

Haithem Rebai ◽

Abdelmoneem Yahia ◽

Nizar Souissi ◽

François Hug ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Knee Extensor ◽

Neuromuscular Fatigue ◽

Activity Level ◽

Knee Extensors ◽

Emg Activity ◽

Electromyographic Activity ◽

Active Recovery ◽

Concentric Exercise ◽

Extensor Muscles ◽

Knee Extensor Muscles

Context: With regard to intermittent training exercise, the effects of the mode of recovery on subsequent performance are equivocal. Objective: To compare the effects of 3 types of recovery intervention on peak torque (PT) and electromyographic (EMG) activity of the knee extensor muscles after fatiguing isokinetic intermittent concentric exercise. Design: Crossover study. Setting: Research laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: Eight elite judo players (age = 18.4 ± 1.4 years, height = 180 ± 3 cm, mass = 77.0 ± 4.2 kg). Intervention(s): Participants completed 3 randomized sessions within 7 days. Each session consisted of 5 sets of 10 concentric knee extensions at 80% PT at 120°/s, with 3 minutes of recovery between sets. Recovery interventions were passive, active, and electromyostimulation. The PT and maximal EMG activity were recorded simultaneously while participants performed isokinetic dynamometer trials before and 3 minutes after the resistance exercise. Main Outcome Measure(s): The PT and maximal EMG activity from the knee extensors were quantified at isokinetic velocities of 60°/s, 120°/s, and 180°/s, with 5 repetitions at each velocity. Results: The reduction in PT observed after electromyo-stimulation was less than that seen after passive (P < .001) or active recovery (P < .001). The reduction in PT was less after passive recovery than after active recovery (P < .001). The maximal EMG activity level observed after electromyostimulation was higher than that seen after active recovery (P < .05). Conclusions: Electromyostimulation was an effective recovery tool in decreasing neuromuscular fatigue after high-intensity, intermittent isokinetic concentric exercise for the knee extensor muscles. Also, active recovery induced the greatest amount of neuromuscular fatigue.

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Relationship between the rate of force development in knee extensor muscles and gait speed in patients with chronic stroke: A cross-sectional study

Neurorehabilitation ◽

10.3233/nre-182455 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 43 (4) ◽

pp. 425-430 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Kazuya Takeda ◽

Shigeo Tanabe ◽

Soichiro Koyama ◽

Koji Shomoto ◽

Yuki Naoi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gait Speed ◽

Knee Extensor ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Chronic Stroke ◽

Rate Of Force Development ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Force Development ◽

Extensor Muscles ◽

Knee Extensor Muscles

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Elbow flexor fatigue modulates central excitability of the knee extensors

Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism ◽

10.1139/apnm-2015-0088 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 40 (9) ◽

pp. 924-930 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Saied Jalal Aboodarda ◽

David B. Copithorne ◽

Kevin E. Power ◽

Eric Drinkwater ◽

David G. Behm

Keyword(s):

Action Potential ◽

Compound Muscle Action Potential ◽

Knee Extensor ◽

Elbow Flexion ◽

Elbow Flexor ◽

Emg Activity ◽

Muscle Action ◽

Muscle Action Potential ◽

Extensor Muscles ◽

Knee Extensor Muscles

The present study investigated the effects of exercise-induced elbow flexor fatigue on voluntary force output, electromyographic (EMG) activity and motoneurone excitability of the nonexercised knee extensor muscles. Eleven participants attended 3 testing sessions: (i) control, (ii) unilateral fatiguing elbow flexion and (iii) bilateral fatiguing elbow flexion (BiFlex). The nonfatigued knee extensor muscles were assessed with thoracic motor evoked potentials (TMEPs), maximal compound muscle action potential (Mmax), knee extensor maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs), and normalized EMG activity before and at 30 s, 3 min, and 5 min postexercise. BiFlex showed significantly lower (Δ = −18%, p = 0.03) vastus lateralis (VL) normalized EMG activity compared with the control session whereas knee extension MVC force did not show any statistical difference between the 3 conditions (p = 0.12). The TMEP·Mmax−1 ratio measured at the VL showed a significantly higher value (Δ = +46%, p = 0.003) following BiFlex compared with the control condition at 30 s postexercise. The results suggest that the lower VL normalized EMG following BiFlex might have been due to a reduction in supraspinal motor output because spinal motoneuronal responses demonstrated substantially higher value (30 s postexercise) and peripheral excitability (compound muscle action potential) showed no change following BiFelex than control condition.

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