Fatigue-related Electromyographic Coherence and Phase Synchronization Analysis Between Antagonistic Elbow Muscles

Overview

Journal Exp Brain Res

Specialty Neurology

Date 2014 Dec 18

PMID 25515087

Citations 19

Authors

Lejun Wang

Aiyun Lu

Shengnian Zhang

Wenxin Niu

Fanhui Zheng

Mingxin Gong

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine coherence and phase synchronization between antagonistic elbow muscles and thus to explore the coupling and common neural inputs of antagonistic elbow muscles during sustained submaximal isometric fatiguing contraction. Fifteen healthy male subjects sustained an isometric elbow flexion at 20 % maximal level until exhaustion, while surface electromyographic signals (sEMG) were collected from biceps brachii (BB) and triceps brachii (TB). sEMG signals were divided into the first half (stage 1 with minimal fatigue) and second half (stage 2 with severe fatigue) of the contraction. Coherence and phase synchronization analysis was conducted between sEMG of BB and TB, and coherence value and phase synchronization index in alpha (8-12 Hz), beta (15-35 Hz) and gamma (35-60 Hz) frequency bands were obtained. Significant increase in EMG-EMG coherence and phase synchronization index in alpha and beta frequency bands between antagonistic elbow flexion muscles was observed all increased in stage 2 compared to stage 1. Coupling of EMG activities between antagonistic muscles increased as a result of fatigue caused by 20 % maximal level sustained isometric elbow flexion, indicating the increased interconnection between synchronized cortical neurons and the motoneuron pool of BB and TB, which may be cortical in origin. This increased coupling may help to maintain coactivation level so as to ensure joint stability on the basis of maintaining the joint force output.

Citing Articles

Effect of Eight-Week Transcranial Direct-Current Stimulation Combined with Lat Pull-Down Resistance Training on Improving Pull-Up Performance for Male College Students.

Li Q, Yan J, Dai H, Qiao M, Gong M, Niu W Life (Basel). 2025; 15(1).

PMID: 39860068 PMC: 11766678. DOI: 10.3390/life15010128.

Effect of fatigue on intermuscular EMG-EMG coupling during bench press exercise at 60% 1RM workload in males.

Wang L, Tao H, Chen Q, Qiao M, Song X, Niu W Front Hum Neurosci. 2024; 18:1472075.

PMID: 39502787 PMC: 11534801. DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1472075.

Right-left sEMG burst synchronization of the lumbar erector spinae muscles of seated violin players.

Khorrami Chokami A, Merletti R Sci Rep. 2024; 14(1):22992.

PMID: 39362919 PMC: 11450191. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-69531-z.

Analysis of Wavelet Coherence in Calf Agonist-Antagonist Muscles during Dynamic Fatigue.

Ni X, Ieong L, Xiang M, Liu Y Life (Basel). 2024; 14(9).

PMID: 39337920 PMC: 11433323. DOI: 10.3390/life14091137.

Experimental Study of Fully Passive, Fully Active, and Active-Passive Upper-Limb Exoskeleton Efficiency: An Assessment of Lifting Tasks.

Nasr A, Dickerson C, McPhee J Sensors (Basel). 2024; 24(1).

PMID: 38202925 PMC: 10780908. DOI: 10.3390/s24010063.

References

Kattla S, Lowery M . Fatigue related changes in electromyographic coherence between synergistic hand muscles. Exp Brain Res. 2009; 202(1):89-99. DOI: 10.1007/s00221-009-2110-0. View

Farmer S, Gibbs J, Halliday D, Harrison L, James L, Mayston M . Changes in EMG coherence between long and short thumb abductor muscles during human development. J Physiol. 2006; 579(Pt 2):389-402. PMC: 2075402. DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2006.123174. View

Ushiyama J, Katsu M, Masakado Y, Kimura A, Liu M, Ushiba J . Muscle fatigue-induced enhancement of corticomuscular coherence following sustained submaximal isometric contraction of the tibialis anterior muscle. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2011; 110(5):1233-40. DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.01194.2010. View

Grosse P, Cassidy M, Brown P . EEG-EMG, MEG-EMG and EMG-EMG frequency analysis: physiological principles and clinical applications. Clin Neurophysiol. 2002; 113(10):1523-31. DOI: 10.1016/s1388-2457(02)00223-7. View

Boonstra T, Daffertshofer A, van As E, van der Vlugt S, Beek P . Bilateral motor unit synchronization is functionally organized. Exp Brain Res. 2006; 178(1):79-88. DOI: 10.1007/s00221-006-0713-2. View

Myers L, Lowery M, OMalley M, Vaughan C, Heneghan C, St Clair Gibson A . Rectification and non-linear pre-processing of EMG signals for cortico-muscular analysis. J Neurosci Methods. 2003; 124(2):157-65. DOI: 10.1016/s0165-0270(03)00004-9. View

Nielsen J, Kagamihara Y . Synchronization of human leg motor units during co-contraction in man. Exp Brain Res. 1994; 102(1):84-94. DOI: 10.1007/BF00232441. View

Boonstra T, Breakspear M . Neural mechanisms of intermuscular coherence: implications for the rectification of surface electromyography. J Neurophysiol. 2011; 107(3):796-807. DOI: 10.1152/jn.00066.2011. View

Gandevia S . Spinal and supraspinal factors in human muscle fatigue. Physiol Rev. 2001; 81(4):1725-89. DOI: 10.1152/physrev.2001.81.4.1725. View

10.

Heroux M, Gandevia S . Human muscle fatigue, eccentric damage and coherence in the EMG. Acta Physiol (Oxf). 2013; 208(4):294-5. DOI: 10.1111/apha.12133. View

11.

Farmer S, Bremner F, Halliday D, Rosenberg J, Stephens J . The frequency content of common synaptic inputs to motoneurones studied during voluntary isometric contraction in man. J Physiol. 1993; 470:127-55. PMC: 1143910. DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.1993.sp019851. View

12.

Nielsen J, Kagamihara Y . The regulation of disynaptic reciprocal Ia inhibition during co-contraction of antagonistic muscles in man. J Physiol. 1992; 456:373-91. PMC: 1175686. DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.1992.sp019341. View

13.

Duchateau J, Baudry S . The neural control of coactivation during fatiguing contractions revisited. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2014; 24(6):780-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2014.08.006. View

14.

Dal Maso F, Longcamp M, Amarantini D . Training-related decrease in antagonist muscles activation is associated with increased motor cortex activation: evidence of central mechanisms for control of antagonist muscles. Exp Brain Res. 2012; 220(3-4):287-95. DOI: 10.1007/s00221-012-3137-1. View

15.

Mima T, Steger J, Schulman A, Gerloff C, Hallett M . Electroencephalographic measurement of motor cortex control of muscle activity in humans. Clin Neurophysiol. 2000; 111(2):326-37. DOI: 10.1016/s1388-2457(99)00229-1. View

16.

Psek J, Cafarelli E . Behavior of coactive muscles during fatigue. J Appl Physiol (1985). 1993; 74(1):170-5. DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1993.74.1.170. View

17.

Levenez M, Kotzamanidis C, Carpentier A, Duchateau J . Spinal reflexes and coactivation of ankle muscles during a submaximal fatiguing contraction. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2005; 99(3):1182-8. DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00284.2005. View

18.

Keen D, Chou L, Nordstrom M, Fuglevand A . Short-term synchrony in diverse motor nuclei presumed to receive different extents of direct cortical input. J Neurophysiol. 2012; 108(12):3264-75. PMC: 3544880. DOI: 10.1152/jn.01154.2011. View

19.

Smith J, Martin P, Gandevia S, Taylor J . Sustained contraction at very low forces produces prominent supraspinal fatigue in human elbow flexor muscles. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2007; 103(2):560-8. DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00220.2007. View

20.

Enoka R, Baudry S, Rudroff T, Farina D, Klass M, Duchateau J . Unraveling the neurophysiology of muscle fatigue. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2010; 21(2):208-19. DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2010.10.006. View