title: Increases of quadriceps inter-muscular cross-correlation and coherence during exhausting stepping exercise.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the change of the intermuscular cross-correlation and coherence of the rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VM) and vastus lateralis (VL) during exhausting stepping exercise. Eleven healthy adults repeated the stepping exercise up to their individual endurance limits (RPE score reached 20), and the cross-correlation and coherence were assessed by surface electromyography (EMG) recordings. The coefficient and time lag of cross-correlation and the coherence areas in the alpha (8-12 Hz), beta (15-30 Hz), gamma (30-60 Hz) and high-gamma (60-150 Hz) bands among the three muscle pairs (RF-VM, RF-VL and VM-VL) were calculated. As muscle fatigue, RF-VM and VM-VL showed increases of coefficients and the shortening of time lags. RF-VM and RF-VL showed increases of beta-band coherence in the ascent and descent phases, respectively. The increased intermuscular cross-correlation and beta-band coherence may be a compensatory strategy for maintaining the coordination of knee synergistic muscles during fatigue due to the fatigue-related disturbance of the corticospinal transmission. Therefore, the intermuscular cross-correlation and beta-band coherence may be a potential index for assessing muscle fatigue and monitoring the central control of motor function during dynamic fatiguing exercise.
authors: Department of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, Chang Gung University, 259, Wen-Hwa 1st Rd, Kweishan, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan. yjchang@mail.cgu.edu.tw
authors: Ya-Ju
authors: YJ
authors: Chang
authors: Ching-Chieh
authors: CC
authors: Chou
authors: Hsiao-Lung
authors: HL
authors: Chan
authors: Miao-Ju
authors: MJ
authors: Hsu
authors: Ming-Yuh
authors: MY
authors: Yeh
authors: Chia-Ying
authors: CY
authors: Fang
authors: Yu-Fen
authors: YF
authors: Chuang
authors: Shun-Hwa
authors: SH
authors: Wei
authors: Hen-Yu
authors: HY
authors: Lien
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000502:physiology; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000502:physiology*