Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Influence of exercise intensity and joint angle on endurance time prediction of sustained submaximal isometric knee extensions

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The purpose of endurance time (T lim) prediction is to determine the exertion time of a muscle contraction before it occurs. T lim prediction would then allow the evaluation of muscle capacities limiting fatigue and deleterious effects associated with exhaustive exercises. The present study aimed to analyze the influence of exercise intensity and joint angle on T lim prediction using changes in surface electromyographic (sEMG) signals recorded during the first moments of the exercise. Fifteen male performed four knee extensions sustained until exhaustion that were different in exercise intensity (20% or 50% of maximal voluntary torque-MVT) and in joint angle (40 or 70º, 0° = full extension). T lim prediction was explored using some parameters of the sEMG signals from rectus femoris, vastus medialis and vastus lateralis muscles. Changes in sEMG parameters (root mean square, mean power frequency and frequency banding 6–30 Hz) were expressed using the slope of the linear regression and the area ratio index. Results indicated that relationships between changes in sEMG signal and T lim (0.51 < r < 0.83) were greater for experimental conditions associated with higher exercise intensity (50% MVT) and so to lower time duration. Knee joint angle had little influence on T lim prediction results. Results also showed higher T lim prediction considering spectral parameters and area ratio. This could be in relation to differences in relative contribution of central and peripheral fatigue that seems to change according to the exercise intensity, but also to the influence of psychological factors that increases with the duration of the task.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Altenburg TM, de Haan A, Verdijk PW, van Mechelen W, de Ruiter CJ (2009) Vastus lateralis single motor unit EMG at the same absolute torque production at different knee angles. J Appl Physiol 107:80–89

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Babault N, Pousson M, Michaut A, Van Hoecke J (2003) Effect of quadriceps femoris muscle length on neural activation during isometric and concentric contractions. J Appl Physiol 94:983–990

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Badier M, Guillot C, Lagier-Tessonnier F, Burnet H, Jammes Y (1993) EMG power spectrum of respiratory and skeletal muscles during static contraction in healthy man. Muscle Nerve 16:601–609

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Basmajian JV, De Luca CJ (1985) Muscles alive: their functions revealed by electromyography. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore

    Google Scholar 

  • Behm DG, St-Pierre DM (1997) Effects of fatigue duration and muscle type on voluntary and evoked contractile properties. J Appl Physiol 82:1654–1661

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bigland-Ritchie B, Woods JJ (1984) Changes in muscle contractile properties and neural control during human muscular fatigue. Muscle Nerve 7:691–699

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Blackwell JR, Kornatz KW, Heath EM (1999) Effect of grip span on maximal grip force and fatigue of flexor digitorum superficialis. Appl Ergon 30:401–405

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boyas S (2010) Électromyographie et prédiction de l’endurance limite. Éditions Universitaires Européennes, Saarbrücken

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyas S, Maisetti O, Guevel A (2009) Changes in sEMG parameters among trunk and thigh muscles during a fatiguing bilateral isometric multi-joint task in trained and untrained subjects. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 19:259–268

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brody LR, Pollock MT, Roy SH, De Luca CJ, Celli B (1991) pH-induced effects on median frequency and conduction velocity of the myoelectric signal. J Appl Physiol 71:1878–1885

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chan AY, Lee FL, Wong PK, Wong CY, Yeung SS (2001) Effects of knee joint angles and fatigue on the neuromuscular control of vastus medialis oblique and vastus lateralis muscle in humans. Eur J Appl Physiol 84:36–41

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Luca CJ (1984) Myoelectrical manifestations of localized muscular fatigue in humans. Crit Rev Biomed Eng 11:251–279

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Desbrosses K, Babault N, Scaglioni G, Meyer J (2006) Neural activation after maximal isomteric contractions at different muscle length. Med Sci Sports Exerc 38:937–944

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dolan P, Mannion AF, Adams MA (1995) Fatigue of the erector spinae muscles. A quantitative assessment using “frequency banding” of the surface electromyography signal. Spine 20:149–159

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ebenbichler G, Kollmitzer J, Quittan M, Uhl F, Kirtley C, Fialka V (1998) EMG fatigue patterns accompanying isometric fatiguing knee-extensions are different in mono- and bi-articular muscles. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 109:256–262

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Elfving B, Nemeth G, Arvidsson I, Lamontagne M (1999) Reliability of EMG spectral parameters in repeated measurements of back muscle fatigue. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 9:235–243

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Enoka RM, Stuart DG (1992) Neurobiology of muscle fatigue. J Appl Physiol 72:1631–1648

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fitch S, McComas AJ (1985) Influence if human muscle length on fatigue. J Physiol 362:205–213

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fuglevand AJ, Zackowski KM, Huey KA, Enoka RM (1993) Impairment of neuromuscular propagation during human fatiguing contractions at submaximal forces. J Physiol 460:549–572

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hagberg M (1981) Muscular endurance and surface electromyogram in isometric and dynamic exercise. J Appl Physiol 51:1–7

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hermens HJ, Freriks B, Disselhorst-Klug C, Rau G (2000) Development of recommendations for SEMG sensors and sensor placement procedures. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 10:361–374

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hisaeda HO, Shinohara M, Kouzaki M, Fukunaga T (2001) Effect of local blood circulation and absolute torque on muscle endurance at two different knee-joint angles in humans. Eur J Appl Physiol 86:17–23

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kent-Braun JA (1999) Central and peripheral contributions to muscle fatigue in humans during sustained maximal effort. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 80:57–63

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kooistra RD, De Ruiter CJ, De Haan A (2005) Muscle activation and blood flow do not explain the muscle length-dependent variation in quadriceps isometric endurance. J Appl Physiol 98:810–816

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kouzaki M, Shinohara M, Masani K, Kanehisa H, Fukunaga T (2002) Alternate muscle activity observed between knee extensor synergists during low-level sustained contractions. J Appl Physiol 93:675–684

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kubo K, Tsunoda N, Kanehisa H, Fukunaga T (2004) Activation of agonist and antagonist muscles at different joint angles during maximal isometric efforts. Eur J Appl Physiol 91:349–352

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lindstrom L, Kadefors R, Petersen I (1977) An electromyographic index for localized muscle fatigue. J Appl Physiol 43:750–754

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Loscher WN, Cresswell AG, Thorstensson A (1996) Excitatory drive to the alpha-motoneuron pool during a fatiguing submaximal contraction in man. J Physiol 491(Pt 1):271–280

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maisetti O, Guevel A, Legros P, Hogrel JY (2002a) Prediction of endurance capacity of quadriceps muscles in humans using surface electromyogram spectrum analysis during submaximal voluntary isometric contractions. Eur J Appl Physiol 87:509–519

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maisetti O, Guevel A, Legros P, Hogrel JY (2002b) SEMG power spectrum changes during a sustained 50% Maximum Voluntary Isometric Torque do not depend upon the prior knowledge of the exercise duration. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 12:103–109

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maisetti O, Boyas S, Guevel A (2006) Specific Neuromuscular Responses of High Skilled Laser Sailors during a Multi-Joint Posture Sustained Until Exhaustion. Int J Sports Med 27:968–975

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mannion AF, Dolan P (1994) Electromyographic median frequency changes during isometric contraction of the back extensors to fatigue. Spine 19:1223–1229

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mannion AF, Dolan P (1996) Relationship between myoelectric and mechanical manifestations of fatigue in the quadriceps femoris muscle group. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 74:411–419

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McKenzie DK, Gandevia SC (1987) Influence of muscle length on human inspiratory and limb muscle endurance. Respir Physiol 67:171–182

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Merletti R, Roy SH (1996) Myoelectrical and mechanical manifestations of muscle fatigue in voluntary contractions. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 24:342–353

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Merletti R, Lo Conte L, Orizio C (1991) Indices of muscles fatigue. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 1:20–33

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mullany H, O’Malley M, St Clair Gibson A, Vaughan C (2002) Agonist-antagonist common drive during fatiguing knee extension efforts using surface electromyography. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 12:375–384

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nargol AV, Jones AP, Kelly PJ, Greenough CG (1999) Factors in the reproducibility of electromyographic power spectrum analysis of lumbar paraspinal muscle fatigue. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 24:883–888

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ng AV, Agre JC, Hanson P, Harrington MS, Nagle FJ (1994) Influence of muscle length and force on endurance and pressor responses to isometric exercise. J Appl Physiol 76:2561–2569

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pal S, Langenderfer JE, Stowe JQ, Laz PJ, Petrella AJ, Rullkoetter PJ (2007) Probabilistic modeling of knee muscle moment arms: effects of methods, origin-insertion, and kinematic variability. Ann Biomed Eng 39:1632–1642

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Place N, Maffiuletti A, Ballay Y, Lepers R (2005) Twitch potentiation is greater after fatiguin submaximal isometric contraction performed at short vs. long quadriceps muscle length. J Appl Physiol 98:429–436

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Place N, Bruton JD, Westerblad H (2009) Mechanisms of fatigue induced by isometric contractions in exercising humans and in mouse isolated single muscle fibres. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 36:334–339

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Powers CM, Landel R, Perry J (1996) Timing and intensity muscle activity during functional activities in subjects with and without patellofemoral pain. Phys Ther 76:956–967

    Google Scholar 

  • Schillings ML, Hoefsloot W, Stegeman DF, Zwarts MJ (2003) Relative contributions of central and peripheral factors to fatigue during a maximal sustained effort. Eur J Appl Physiol 90:562–568

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sirin AV, Patla AE (1987) Myoelectric changes in the triceps surae muscles under sustained contractions. Evidence for synergism. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 56:238–244

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith JL, Martin PG, Gandevia SC, Taylor JL (2007) Sustained contraction at very low forces produces prominent supraspinal fatigue in human elbow flexor muscles. J Appl Physiol 103:560–568

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Standridge RK, Kondraske GV, Mooney V, Carmichael TW, Mayer TG (1988) Temporal characterization of myoelectric spectral moment changes: analysis of common parameters. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 35:789–797

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • van Dieen JH, Oude Vrielink HH, Housheer AF, Lotters FB, Toussaint HM (1993) Trunk extensor endurance and its relationship to electromyogram parameters. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 66:388–396

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • van Dieen JH, Heijblom P, Bunkens H (1998) Extrapolation of time series of EMG power spectrum parameters in isometric endurance tests of trunk extensor muscles. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 8:35–44

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Visser JJ, Hoogkamer JE, Bobbert MF, Huijing PA (1990) Length and moment arm of human leg muscles as a function of knee and hip-joint angles. Eur J Appl Physiol 61:453–460

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weir JP, Ayers KM, Lacefield JF, Walsh KL (2000) Mechanomyographic and electromyographic responses during fatigue in humans: influence of muscle length. Eur J Appl Physiol 81:352–359

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang LQ, Wang G, Nuber GW, Press JM, Koh JL (2003) In vivo load sharing among the quadriceps components. J Orthop Res 21:565–571

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

There is no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory “Motricité, Interactions, Performance”, EA 4334, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Nantes, Nantes, France

    Sébastien Boyas & Arnaud Guével

  2. Laboratory “Motricité, Interactions, Performance”, Faculty of Sport Sciences, 25 bis Boulevard Guy Mollet, 44322, Nantes Cedex 3, France

    Sébastien Boyas

  3. School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada

    Sébastien Boyas

Authors
  1. Sébastien Boyas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Arnaud Guével
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sébastien Boyas.

Additional information

Communicated by Arnold de Haan.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Boyas, S., Guével, A. Influence of exercise intensity and joint angle on endurance time prediction of sustained submaximal isometric knee extensions. Eur J Appl Physiol 111, 1187–1196 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1731-0

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1731-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation