Neuromuscular fatigue differs with biofeedback type when performing a submaximal contraction.
The aim of the study was to examine alterations in contractile and neural processes in response to an isometric fatiguing contraction performed with EMG feedback (constant-EMG task) when exerting 40% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) torque with the knee extensor muscles. A task with a torque feedback (constant-torque task) set at a similar intensity served as a reference task. Thirteen men (26+/-5 yr) attended two experimental sessions that were randomized across days. Endurance time was greater for the constant-EMG task compared with the constant-torque task (230+/-156 s vs. 101+/-32s, P<0.01). Average EMG activity for the knee extensor muscles increased from 33.5+/-4.5% to 54.7+/-21.7% MVC EMG during the constant-torque task (P<0.001), whereas the torque exerted during the constant-EMG task decreased from 42.8+/-3.0% to 17.9+/-5.6% MVC torque (P<0.001). Comparable reductions in knee extensors MVC (-15.7+/-8.7% for the constant-torque task vs. -17.5+/-9.8% for the constant-EMG task, P>0.05) and voluntary activation level were observed at exhaustion. In contrast, excitation-contraction coupling process, assessed with an electrically evoked twitch and doublet, was altered significantly more at the end of the constant-EMG task despite the absence of M-wave changes for both tasks. Present results suggest that prolonged contractions using EMG biofeedback should be used cautiously in rehabilitation programs.
Place
Nicolas
N
INSERM ERM 207 Motricité-Plasticité Laboratory, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Burgundy, 21078 Dijon Cedex, France. nicolas.place@u-bourgogne.fr
Martin
Alain
A
Ballay
Yves
Y
Lepers
Romuald
R
D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D005246:Feedback; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D007717:Knee / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000502:physiology*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors; D019415:Torque