Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sex differences in variances of multi-channel surface electromyography distribution of the vastus lateralis muscle during isometric knee extension in young adults

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

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the present study was to compare spatial electromyographic potential distribution during force production between healthy young female and male using multi-channel surface electromyography (multi-SEMG).

Methods

Thirty healthy subjects (15 females) performed sustained isometric knee extension at 10% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) task for 120 s. Multi-SEMG signals from the vastus lateralis muscle were detected and the modified entropy, coefficient of variation (CV), and correlation coefficient determined.

Results

The modified entropy and CV showed significant interaction and difference between females and males at all time points during the 10% MVC task. The correlation coefficient in females was significantly lower at 90 and 120 s than that of males.

Conclusions

The multi-SEMG potential distribution pattern in females showed more varied motor unit recruitment during sustained low-intensity isometric contraction than that of males. Variations in motor unit recruitment may result from recruitment and/or de-recruitment of motor units.

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
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

ARV:

Average rectified value

CV:

Coefficient of variation

EMG:

Electromyogram

multi-SEMG:

Multi-channel surface electromyography

MVC:

Maximal voluntary contraction

VL:

Vastus lateralis

References

  • Barnes WS (1980) The relationship between maximum isometric strength and intramuscular circulatory occlusion. Ergonomics 23:351–357. doi:10.1080/00140138008924748

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beck TW, DeFreitas JM, Stock MS (2010) Cross-talk among monopolar surface electromyographic signals from the superficial quadriceps femoris muscles. Electromyogr Clin Neurophysiol 50:245–250

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chanaud CM, Macpherson JM (1991) Functionally complex muscles of the cat hindlimb. III. Differential activation within biceps femoris during postural perturbations. Exp Brain Res 85:271–280

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Enoka RM (2012) Muscle fatigue-from motor units to clinical symptoms. J Biomech 45:427–433. doi:10.1016/j.jbiomech.2011.11.047

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Esbjörnsson-Liljedahl M, Sundberg CJ, Norman B, Jansson E (1999) Metabolic response in type I and type II muscle fibers during a 30-s cycle sprint in men and women. J Appl Physiol 87:1326–1332

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Falla D, Arendt-Nielsen L, Farina D (2008) Gender-specific adaptations of upper trapezius muscle activity to acute nociceptive stimulation. Pain 138:217–225. doi:10.1016/j.pain.2008.04.004

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Falla D, Andersen H, Danneskiold-Samsøe B, Arendt-Nielsen L, Farina D (2010) Adaptations of upper trapezius muscle activity during sustained contractions in women with fibromyalgia. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 20:457–464. doi:10.1016/j.jelekin.2009.07.002

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Farina D, Leclerc F, Arendt-Nielsen L, Buttelli O, Madeleine P (2008) The change in spatial distribution of upper trapezius muscle activity is correlated to contraction duration. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 18:16–25. doi:10.1016/j.jelekin.2006.08.005

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hammarsten J, Bylund-Fellenius AC, Holm J, Scherstén T, Krotkiewski M (1980) Capillary supply and muscle fibre types in patients with intermittent claudication: relationships between morphology and metabolism. Eur J Clin Invest 10:301–305

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Henneman E, Somjen G, Carpenter DO (1965) Functional significance of cell size in spinal motoneurons. J Neurophysiol 28:560–580

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holtermann A, Roeleveld K (2006) EMG amplitude distribution changes over the upper trapezius muscle are similar in sustained and ramp contractions. Acta Physiol 186:159–168. doi:10.1111/j.1748-1716.2005.01520.x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holtermann A, Roeleveld K, Karlsson JS (2005) Inhomogeneities in muscle activation reveal motor unit recruitment. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 15:131–137. doi:10.1016/j.jelekin.2004.09.003

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Holtermann A, Grönlund C, Stefan Karlsson J, Roeleveld K (2008) Spatial distribution of active muscle fibre characteristics in the upper trapezius muscle and its dependency on contraction level and duration. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 18:372–381. doi:10.1016/j.jelekin.2006.12.003

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Holtermann A, Roeleveld K, Mork PJ, Grönlund C, Karlsson JS, Andersen LL, Olsen HB, Zebis MK, Sjøgaard G, Søgaard K (2009) Selective activation of neuromuscular compartments within the human trapezius muscle. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 19:896–902. doi:10.1016/j.jelekin.2008.04.016

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hunter SK (2014) Sex differences in human fatigability: mechanisms and insight to physiological responses. Acta Physiol 210:768–789. doi:10.1111/apha.12234

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hunter SK, Enoka RM (2001) Sex differences in the fatigability of arm muscles depends on absolute force during isometric contractions. J Appl Physiol 91:2686–2694

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hunter SK, Ryan DL, Ortega JD, Enoka RM (2002) Task differences with the same load torque alter the endurance time of submaximal fatiguing contractions in humans. J Neurophysiol 88:3087–3096. doi:10.1152/jn.00232.2002

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kent-Braun JA, Ng AV, Doyle JW, Towse TF (2002) Human skeletal muscle responses vary with age and gender during fatigue due to incremental isometric exercise. J Appl Physiol 93:1813–1823. doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00091.2002

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kent-Braun JA, Fitts RH, Christie A (2012) Skeletal muscle fatigue. Compr Physiol 2:997–1044. doi:10.1002/cphy.c110029

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lexell J, Downham DY (1991) The occurrence of fibre-type grouping in healthy human muscle: a quantitative study of cross-sections of whole vastus lateralis from men between 15 and 83 years. Acta Neuropathol 81:377–381

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Madeleine P, Leclerc F, Arendt-Nielsen L, Ravier P, Farina D (2006) Experimental muscle pain changes the spatial distribution of upper trapezius muscle activity during sustained contraction. Clin Neurophysiol 117:2436–2445. doi:10.1016/j.clinph.2006.06.753

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Maughan RJ, Harmon M, Leiper JB, Sale D, Delman A (1986) Endurance capacity of untrained males and females in isometric and dynamic muscular contractions. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 55:395–400

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Merletti R, Holobar A, Farina D (2008) Analysis of motor units with high-density surface electromyography. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 18:879–890. doi:10.1016/j.jelekin.2008.09.002

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miller AE, MacDougall JD, Tarnopolsky MA, Sale DG (1993) Gender differences in strength and muscle fiber characteristics. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 66:254–262

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Russ DW, Kent-Braun JA (2003) Sex differences in human skeletal muscle fatigue are eliminated under ischemic conditions. J Applied Physiol 94:2414–2422. doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.01145.2002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sadamoto T, Bonde-Petersen F, Suzuki Y (1983) Skeletal muscle tension, flow, pressure, and EMG during sustained isometric contractions in humans. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 51:395–408

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Simoneau JA, Bouchard C (1989) Human variation in skeletal muscle fiber-type proportion and enzyme activities. Am J Physiol 257:E567–E572

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Simoneau JA, Lortie G, Boulay MR, Thibault MC, Thériault G, Bouchard C (1985) Skeletal muscle histochemical and biochemical characteristics in sedentary male and female subjects. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 63:30–35

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe K, Kouzaki M, Merletti R, Fujibayashi M, Moritani T (2012a) Spatial EMG potential distribution pattern of vastus lateralis muscle during isometric knee extension in young and elderly men. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 22:74–79. doi:10.1016/j.jelekin.2011.09.010

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe K, Kouzaki M, Moritani T (2012b) Task-dependent spatial distribution of neural activation pattern in human rectus femoris muscle. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 22:251–258. doi:10.1016/j.jelekin.2011.11.004

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe K, Miyamoto T, Tanaka Y, Fukuda K, Moritani T (2012c) Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients manifest characteristic spatial EMG potential distribution pattern during sustained isometric contraction. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 97:468–473. doi:10.1016/j.diabres.2012.03.004

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Watanabe K, Kouzaki M, Moritani T (2015) Spatial EMG potential distribution of biceps brachii muscle during resistance training and detraining. Eur J Appl Physiol 115:2661–2670. doi:10.1007/s00421-015-3237-2

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all the subjects who volunteered to participate in this study. This study was supported in part by research grants from JSPS KAKENHI (Grant Numbers 24500586 and 15K01369).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Therapeutics, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan

    Yuichi Nishikawa, Tetsuya Takahashi, Naohisa Hosomi, Hirofumi Maruyama & Masayasu Matsumoto

  2. Division of Rehabilitation, Department of Clinical Practice and Support, Hiroshima University Hospital, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan

    Yuichi Nishikawa & Naoya Orita

  3. Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of International Liberal Studies, Chukyo University, 101-2 Yagotohonmachi, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8666, Japan

    Kohei Watanabe

  4. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hiroshima University Hospital, 1-2-3 Kasumi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima, 734-8551, Japan

    Yukio Mikami & Hiroaki Kimura

Authors
  1. Yuichi Nishikawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kohei Watanabe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tetsuya Takahashi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Naohisa Hosomi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Naoya Orita
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Yukio Mikami
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Hirofumi Maruyama
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Hiroaki Kimura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Masayasu Matsumoto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yuichi Nishikawa.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest and that no companies or manufacturers will benefit from the results of this study.

Additional information

Communicated by Toshio Moritani.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Nishikawa, Y., Watanabe, K., Takahashi, T. et al. Sex differences in variances of multi-channel surface electromyography distribution of the vastus lateralis muscle during isometric knee extension in young adults. Eur J Appl Physiol 117, 583–589 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3559-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3559-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation