title: Muscle fiber conduction velocity (MFCV) after fatigue in elderly subjects.
abstract: The changes in muscle fiber conduction velocity (MFCV) and median frequency (MDF) during and after muscle fatigue were investigated in 9 younger (mean age: 29.3) and 7 elderly (mean age: 72.0) healthy subjects to determine if age has any effect on them. The surface EMG of the abductor digiti minimi muscle was examined at 50% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) during a prefatigue session. The subjects were instructed to continue applying maximal force until the force declined to 50% MVC. EMG signals were measured during brief subsequent contractions at 50% MVC until 60 minutes after fatigue as a postfatigue session. The decrement in MFCV and MDF at 50% MVC before and after fatigue was 73.4%, 67.3% in the younger and 71.2%, 66.7% in the elderly subjects, respectively. MFCV and MDF recovered to initial value after fatigue more slowly in the elderly subjects (recovery time: elderly: MFCV 6.0 min., MDF 6.0 min.; younger: MFCV 2.77 min., MDF 3.00 min.) (P < 0.05, Mann-Whitney test). The over-shooting recovery phase was recognized in both age groups, but the elderly subjects had a smaller and shorter one. The slower recovery in the elderly suggested that they possibly had less potential to recovery the membrane potential propagation, metabolic capacity and more type 1 fiber composition. The smaller and shorter overshooting in the elderly might be due to less increase of muscle swelling and/or less membrane hyperpolarization.
authors.affiliation: Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, West Orange, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Findley
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hanayama
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D004576:Electromyography; D005221:Fatigue / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology