An EMG fractal indicator having different sensitivities to changes in force and muscle fatigue during voluntary static muscle contractions. 2005

Philippe Ravier, and Olivier Buttelli, and Rachid Jennane, and Pierre Couratier
Laboratoire d'Electronique Signaux Images, Université d'Orléans, France. Philippe.Ravier@univ-orleans.fr

During a sustained contraction, electromyographic signals (EMGs) undergo a spectral compression. This fatigue behaviour induces a shift of the mean and the median frequencies to lower frequencies. On the other hand, several studies conclude that the mean/median frequency can increase, decrease or remain constant with an increasing force level. Such inconsistency is embarrassing since the fatigue state may be influenced by the force level. In this paper, we propose a frequency indicator which is sensitive to the force level independently of the fatigue state evaluated at 70% of the maximal voluntary contraction. Ten healthy volunteers participated in the study and both surface EMGs (from the short head of the biceps brachii) and force signals were measured. This study compared force and fatigue effects on the EMGs during short (3-s) isometric contractions at different strength intensities and during a sustained isometric contraction until exhaustion. The EMGs partly show 1/falpha spectral behaviours since their power spectral densities may experimentally fit with two linear segments in a log-log representation. The measured "right" slope produces variations of force as 20 times the variations of fatigue. 1/falpha Behaviour may be related to stochastic fractals. This fractal indicator is a new frequency indicator that is thus complementary to other known classical frequency indicators when studying force during unknown fatigue states.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007537 Isometric Contraction Muscular contractions characterized by increase in tension without change in length. Contraction, Isometric,Contractions, Isometric,Isometric Contractions
D008297 Male Males
D004551 Elbow Joint A hinge joint connecting the FOREARM to the ARM. Elbow Joints,Joint, Elbow,Joints, Elbow
D004576 Electromyography Recording of the changes in electric potential of muscle by means of surface or needle electrodes. Electromyogram,Surface Electromyography,Electromyograms,Electromyographies,Electromyographies, Surface,Electromyography, Surface,Surface Electromyographies
D005246 Feedback A mechanism of communication within a system in that the input signal generates an output response which returns to influence the continued activity or productivity of that system. Feedbacks
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D000703 Analog-Digital Conversion The process of converting analog data to discrete, digital form. Analogue-Digital Conversion,Analog Digital Conversion,Analog-Digital Conversions,Analogue Digital Conversion,Analogue-Digital Conversions,Conversion, Analog-Digital,Conversion, Analogue-Digital,Conversions, Analog-Digital,Conversions, Analogue-Digital
D001132 Arm The superior part of the upper extremity between the SHOULDER and the ELBOW. Brachium,Upper Arm,Arm, Upper,Arms,Arms, Upper,Brachiums,Upper Arms

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