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.

[1]  Clyde Williams,et al.  The effect of a high carbohydrate diet on running performance during a 30-km treadmill time trial , 2005, European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology.

[2]  J T Viitasalo,et al.  Interrelationships between electromyographic, mechanical, muscle structure and reflex time measurements in man. , 1981, Acta physiologica Scandinavica.

[3]  P. Komi,et al.  Electromechanical delay in skeletal muscle under normal movement conditions. , 1979, Acta physiologica Scandinavica.

[4]  P V Komi,et al.  Electromyographic and mechanical characteristics of human skeletal muscle during fatigue under voluntary and reflex conditions. , 1983, Electroencephalography and clinical neurophysiology.

[5]  C. Shanks,et al.  Electromyographic and Mechanical Twitch Responses following Suxamethonium Administration , 1980, Anaesthesia and intensive care.

[6]  G. Kamen,et al.  Exercise effects upon reflex time components in weight lifters and distance runners. , 1981, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[7]  P. Cavanagh,et al.  Electromechanical delay in human skeletal muscle under concentric and eccentric contractions , 1979, European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology.

[8]  I. Jacobs,et al.  Electro-mechanical response times and rate of force development in males and females. , 1986, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[9]  M. Johnson,et al.  Data on the distribution of fibre types in thirty-six human muscles. An autopsy study. , 1973, Journal of the neurological sciences.

[10]  W. S. Myles,et al.  Electro-mechanical response times and muscle strength after sleep deprivation. , 1988, Canadian journal of sport sciences = Journal canadien des sciences du sport.

[11]  F. Bustami.  A new description of the lumbar erector spinae muscle in man. , 1986, Journal of anatomy.

[12]  Robert W. Norman,et al.  Mechanical measures during maximal velocity knee extension exercise and their relation to fibre composition of the human vastus lateralis muscle , 2004, European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology.

[13]  D. Chaffin,et al.  A proposed standard procedure for static muscle strength testing. , 1974, American Industrial Hygiene Association journal.

[14]  B Jonsson,et al.  The functions of individual muscles in the lumbar part of the spinae muscle. , 1970, Electromyography.

[15]  Paavo V. Komi,et al.  EMG frequency spectrum, muscle structure, and fatigue during dynamic contractions in man , 1979, European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology.

[16]  A Sirca,et al.  The fibre type composition of thoracic and lumbar paravertebral muscles in man. , 1985, Journal of anatomy.

[17]  N. Bogduk.  A reappraisal of the anatomy of the human lumbar erector spinae. , 1980, Journal of anatomy.

[18]  C. D. De Luca,et al.  Myoelectrical manifestations of localized muscular fatigue in humans. , 1984, Critical reviews in biomedical engineering.

[19]  Serge H. Roy,et al.  Lumbar Muscle Fatigue and Chronic Lower Back Pain , 1989, Spine.

[20]  M D Grabiner.  Bioelectric characteristics of the electromechanical delay preceding concentric contraction. , 1986, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[21]  W Kroll,et al.  Effects of local muscular fatigue due to isotonic and isometric exercise upon fractionated reaction time components. , 1973, Journal of motor behavior.

[22]  P. Clarkson.  The effect of age and activity level on simple and choice fractionated response time , 1978, European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology.

[23]  A Thorstensson,et al.  Fatigue and EMG of repeated fast voluntary contractions in man. , 1977, Acta physiologica Scandinavica.

[24]  William S. Marras.  Trunk motion during lifting: Temporal relations among loading factors , 1987 .

[25]  Activation patterns of the triceps brachii muscle during sub-maximal elbow extension. , 1987, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[26]  G. Kamen,et al.  Fractioned reaction time in power-trained and endurance-trained athletes under conditions of fatiguing isometric exercise. , 1981, Journal of motor behavior.

[27]  N Bogduk,et al.  The morphology of the human lumbar multifidus. , 1986, Clinical biomechanics.

[28]  Peter Vink,et al.  Specificity of surface-EMG on the intrinsic lumbar back muscles , 1989 .

[29]  K. Hayes.  Effects of fatiguing isometric exercise upon achilles tendon reflex and plantar flexion reaction time components in man , 1975, European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology.

[30]  A. F. Morris.  Effects of fatiguing isometric and isotonic exercise on resisted and unresisted reaction time components , 1977, European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology.

[31]  T. Corser.  Temporal discrepancies in the electromyographic study of rapid movement. , 1974, Ergonomics.

[32]  E. Vos,et al.  Electromechanical delay in the vastus lateralis muscle during dynamic isometric contractions , 1990, European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology.

[33]  D. Maria.  Pre-motor and motor reaction time differences associated with stretching of the hamstring muscles. , 1970 .

[34]  D. Laine Santa Maria.  Pre-motor and motor reaction time differences associated with stretching of the hamstring muscles. , 1970, Journal of motor behavior.

[35]  E. Nakamura,et al.  Gas exchange parameters, muscle blood flow and electromechanical properties of the plantar flexors , 2004, European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology.

[36]  C. J. Luca.  Myoelectrical manifestations of localized muscular fatigue in humans. , 1984 .

[37]  J. S. Petrofsky,et al.  Frequency and amplitude analysis of the EMG during exercise on the bicycle ergometer , 1979, European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology.

[38]  Fractionated reaction and reflex time before and after fatiguing isotonic exercise. , 1974, Medicine and science in sports.

[39]  Manohar M. Panjabi,et al.  Clinical Biomechanics of the Spine , 1978 .

[40]  Toshihiro Ishiko,et al.  Relationships between muscle lactate accumulation and surface EMG activities during isokinetic contractions in man , 2004, European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology.