Power spectral changes of the superimposed M wave during isometric voluntary contractions of increasing strength

Introduction: We examined the power spectralchanges of the compound muscle action potential (M wave)evoked during isometric contractions of increasing strength.Methods: Surface electromyography (sEMG) of the vastus later-alis and medialis was recorded from 20 volunteers who per-formed 4-s step-wise...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Rodríguez Falces, Javier, Place, Nicolas
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2015
País:España
Institución:Universidad Pública de Navarra
Repositorio:Academica-e. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad Pública de Navarra
OAI Identifier:oai:academica-e.unavarra.es:2454/55582
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2454/55582
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Superimposed M-wave
Surface EMG spectral analysis
Median frequency
Step-wise contractions
Femoral nerve stimulation
Descripción
Sumario:Introduction: We examined the power spectralchanges of the compound muscle action potential (M wave)evoked during isometric contractions of increasing strength.Methods: Surface electromyography (sEMG) of the vastus later-alis and medialis was recorded from 20 volunteers who per-formed 4-s step-wise isometric contractions of differentintensities. A maximal M wave was elicited by a single stimulusto the femoral nerve and superimposed on the voluntary con-tractions. The spectral characteristics (Fmean and Fmedian) ofsEMG and M-wave signals were calculated. Results: M-wavespectral indicators increased systematically with contractionintensity up to 60% MVC and then leveled off at higher forces.Over the 10–60% MVC range, the increase in spectral indica-tors was 3 times higher for M waves (36%) than for sEMG(12%). Conclusions: The consistent increase in M-wave spectralcharacteristics with force is due to the fact that the number ofmotor units recruited by the superimposed supramaximal stimu-lus is approximately stable.