Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A novel approach of defining fatigue indices with sEMG power during isotonic contractions

  • Published:
International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A new fatigue index for the assessment of peripheral muscle fatigue during isotonic contraction was defined in this study. Twenty subjects performed five sets of ten isotonic contractions with two minutes of rest between each set. Surface electromyography (sEMG) was recorded from the rectus femoris muscle for each subject. The new fatigue index (FIhlrx) was defined as the ratio of the high frequency component to the low frequency component of raw EMG signals. The accuracy of the proposed index was compared with that of well-known EMG-based fatigue indices such as the root mean square (RMS) and median frequency (Fmed). Results showed that the indices proposed in this study were more accurate than those traditional approaches. In particular, FIhlr360 was the most strongly correlated with mechanical joint power (r = 0.749). The new fatigue index could serve as a reliable tool for the assessment of peripheral muscle fatigue, irrespective of EMG signal variability caused by dynamic contractions.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Son, J., Hwang, S., and Kim, Y., “A hybrid static optimisation method to estimate muscle forces during muscle co-activation,” Comput. Methods Biomech. Biomed. Engin., Vol. 15, No. 3, pp. 249–254, 2012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Son, J., Kim, S., Ahn, S., Ryu, J., Hwang, S., and Kim, Y., “Determination of the dynamic knee joint range of motion during leg extension exercise using an EMG-driven model,” Int. J. Precis. Eng. Manuf., Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 117–123, 2012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Potvin, J. R. and Brown, S. H. M., “Less is more: high pass filtering, to remove up to 99% of the surface EMG signal power, improves EMG-based biceps brachii muscle force estimates,” J. Electromyogr. Kinesiol., Vol. 14, No. 3, pp. 389–399, 2004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Masuda, K., Masuda, T., Sadoyama, T., Inaki, M., and Katsuta, S., “Changes in surface EMG parameters during static and dynamic fatiguing contractions,” J. Electromyogr. Kinesiol., Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 39–46, 1999.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Cifrek, M., Medved, V., Tonkovic, S., and Ostojic, S., “Surface EMG based Muscle fatigue evaluation in biomechanics,” Clin. Biomech., Vol. 24, No. 4., pp. 327–340, 2009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Jang, K. and Kim, Y., “Muscle fatigue analysis by median frequency and wavelet transform during lumbar extension exercises,” J. Biomed. Eng. Res., Vol. 25, No. 5, pp. 377–382, 2004.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Vollestad, N. K., “Measurement of human muscle fatigue,” J. Neurosci. Methods, Vol. 74, No. 2, pp. 219–227, 1997.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. van Dieen, J. H., Boke, B., Oosterhuis, W., and Toussaint, H. M., “The influence of torque and velocity on erector spinae muscle fatigue and its relationship to changes of electromyogram spectrum density,” Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. Occup. Physiol., Vol. 72, No. 4, pp. 310–315, 1996.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Ament, W., Bonga, G. J., Hof, A. L., and Verkerke, G. J., “Electromyogram median power frequency in dynamic exercise at medium exercise intensities,” Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. Occup. Physiol., Vol. 74, No. 1–2, pp. 180–186, 1996.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Gerdle, B., Larsson, B., and Karlsson, S., “Criterion validation of surface EMG variables as fatigue indicators using peak torque: a study of repetitive maximum isokinetic knee extensions,” J. Electromyogr. Kinesiol., Vol. 10, No. 4, pp. 225–232, 2000.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Potvin, J. R. and Bent, L. R., “Validation of techniques using surface EMG signals from dynamic contractions to quantify muscle fatigue during repetitive tasks,” J. Electromyogr. Kinesiol., Vol. 7, No. 2, pp. 131–139, 1997.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Farina, D., “Interpretation of the surface electromyogram in dynamic contractions,” Exerc. Sport Sci. Rev., Vol. 34, No. 3, pp. 121–127, 2006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Bonato, P., Cheng, M. S., Gonzalez-Cueto, J., Leardini, A., O’Connor, J., and Roy, S. H., “EMG-based measures of fatigue during a repetitive squat exercise,” IEEE Eng. Med. Biol. Mag., Vol. 20, No. 6, pp. 133–143, 2001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Bonato, P., Gagliati, G., and Knaflitz, M., “Analysis of myoelectric signals recorded during dynamic contractions,” IEEE Eng. Med. Biol. Mag., Vol. 15, No. 6, pp. 102–111, 1996.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Choi, H. I. and Williams, W. J., “Improved time-frequency representation of multicomponent signals using exponential kernels,” IEEE Trans. Acoustics, Speech and Signal Processing, Vol. 37, No. 6, pp. 862–871, 1989.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Karlsson, S., Yu, J., and Akay, M., “Time-frequency analysis of myoelectric signals during dynamic contractions: a comparative study,” IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng., Vol. 47, No. 2, pp. 228–238, 2000.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Dimitrov, G. V., Arabadzhiev, T. I., Mileva, K. N., Bowtell, J. L., Crichton, N., and Dimitrova, N. A., “Muscle fatigue during dynamic contractions assessed by new spectral indices,” Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 38, No. 11, pp. 1971–1979, 2006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Lee, K. Y., Shin, K. Y., Kim, H. S., and Mun, J. H., “Estimating muscle fatigue of the biceps brachii using high to low band ratio in EMG during isotonic exercise,” Int. J. Precis. Eng. Manuf., Vol. 10, No. 3, pp. 147–153, 2009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Chaffin, D. B., “Localized muscle fatigue, definition and measurements,” J. Occup. Med., Vol. 15, No. 4, pp. 346–354, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Kogi, K. and Hakamada, T., “Slowing of surface electromyogram and muscle strength in muscle fatigue,” Rep. Inst. Sci. Labour., Vol. 60, pp. 27–41, 1962.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Sato, H., “Functional characteristics of human skeletal muscle revealed by spectral analysis of the surface electromyogram,” Electromyogr. Clin. Neurophysiol., Vol. 22, pp. 459–516, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Moxham, J., Edwards, R. H. T., Aubier, M., de Troyer, A., Farkas, G., Macklem, P. T., and Roussos, C., “Changes in EMG power spectrum (high-to-low ratio) with force fatigue in humans,” J. Appl. Physiol., Vol. 53, No. 5, pp. 1094–1099, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Bellemare, F. and Grassino, A., “Evaluation of human diaphragm fatigue,” J. Appl. Physiol., Vol. 53, No. 5, pp. 1196–1206, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Dimitrov, G. V. and Dimitrova, N. A., “Fundamentals of power spectra extracellular potentials produced by skeletal muscle fibre of finite length. Part I: Effect of fibre anatomy,” Med. Eng. Phys., Vol. 20, No. 9, pp. 580–587, 1998.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Roy, S. H., de Luca, C. J., and Schneider, J., “Effects of electrode location on myoelectric conduction velocity and median frequency estimates,” J. Appl. Physiol., Vol. 61, No. 4, pp. 1510–1517, 1986.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Moritani, T., Nagata, A., and Muro, M., “Electromyographic manifestations of muscular fatigue,” Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 14, No. 3, pp. 198–202, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Bigland-Ritchie, B., Johansson, R., Lippold, O. C., Smith, S., and Woods, J. J., “Changes in motoneurone firing rates during sustained maximal voluntary contractions,” J. Physiol., Vol. 340, pp. 335–346, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Komi, P. V. and Tesch, P., “EMG frequency spectrum, muscle structure, and fatigue during dynamic contractions in man,” Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. Occup. Physiol., Vol. 42, No. 1, pp. 41–50, 1979.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Gonzalez-Izal, M., Malanda, A., Navarro-Amezqueta, I., Gorostiaga, E. M., Mallor, F., Ibanez, J., and Izquierdo, M., “EMG spectral indices and muscle power fatigue during dynamic contractions,” J. Electromyogr. Kinesiol., Vol. 20, No. 2, pp. 233–240, 2010.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Bigland-Ritchie, B., Donovan, E. F., and Roussos, C. S., “Conduction velocity and EMG power spectrum changes in fatigue of sustained maximal efforts,” J. Appl. Physiol., Vol. 51, No. 5, pp. 1300–1305, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Institute of Medical Engineering, Yonsei University, Maeji-ri, Heungeop-myeon, Wonju, Gangwon, South Korea, 220-710

    Jungyoon Kim, Sunwoo Park, Soonjae Ahn & Youngho Kim

Authors
  1. Jungyoon Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sunwoo Park
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Soonjae Ahn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Youngho Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Youngho Kim.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kim, J., Park, S., Ahn, S. et al. A novel approach of defining fatigue indices with sEMG power during isotonic contractions. Int. J. Precis. Eng. Manuf. 13, 977–983 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12541-012-0127-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12541-012-0127-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation