title: On the behavior of surface electromyographic variables during the menstrual cycle.
abstract: The goal of this work is to study the behavior of electromyographic variables during the menstrual cycle. Ten female volunteers (24.0 ± 2.8 years of age) performed fatiguing isometric contractions, and electromyographic signals were measured on the biceps brachii in four phases of the menstrual cycle. Adaptations of classical algorithms were used for the estimation of the root mean square (RMS) value, absolute rectified value (ARV), mean frequency (MNF), median frequency (MDF), and conduction velocity (CV). The CV estimator had a higher (p = 0.002) rate of decrease at the end of the follicular phase and at the end of the luteal phase. The MDF (p = 0.002) and MNF (p = 0.004) estimators had a higher rate of decrease at the beginning of the follicular phase and at the end of the luteal phase. No significant differences between phases of the menstrual cycle were detected with the ARV and RMS estimators (p > 0.05). These results suggest that the behavior of the muscles in women presents different characteristics during different phases of the menstrual cycle. In particular, women were more susceptible to fatigue at the end of the luteal phase.
authors: Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Brasilia, Brasilia-DF, Brazil. fabianosoares@unb.br
authors: Fabiano Araujo
authors: FA
authors: Soares
authors: Sauro Emerick
authors: SE
authors: Salomoni
authors: Wilson Henrique
authors: WH
authors: Veneziano
authors: Joao Luiz Azevedo
authors: JL
authors: de Carvalho
authors: Francisco Assis de Oliveira
authors: FA
authors: Nascimento
authors: Kenia Fonseca
authors: KF
authors: Pires
authors: Adson Ferreira
authors: AF
authors: da Rocha
mesh_terms: D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004566:Electrodes; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult