METHODS: Twenty-five subjects performed isometric elbow extension until failure, and the rate of fatigue (ROF), time to fatigue (TTF) and normalized TTF (NTTF) were statistically analysed. Subsequently, the behaviour of root-mean-square (RMS), mean-power frequency (MPF) and median-power frequency (MDF) under pre-, onset- and post-fatigue conditions were compared.
RESULTS: The findings indicated that, among the heads, ROF was statistically significant at 30% and 45% MVC (P<0.05) but TTF and NTTF at all intensities was statistically insignificant (P>0.05). For every head, only TTF was statistically significant (P<0.05) at different intensities. MPF and MDF under pre-, onset- and post-fatigue conditions were statistically significant (P<0.05) among the heads at all intensities, whereas RMS showed no such behaviour.
CONCLUSION: The investigated parameters reveal that the three heads of TB act independently before fatigue onset and appear to work in union after fatigue. Synergist head pairs exhibit similar spectral and temporal behaviour in contrast to the non-synergist TB head pair. We find spectral parameters to be more specific predictors of fatigue.
METHODS: MMG signals in longitudinal, lateral and transverse directions of muscle fibres were recorded from the elbow flexors of twenty-five male subjects using triaxial accelerometers. Cross-correlation coefficients were used to quantify the degree of crosstalk in all nine possible pairs of fibre axes, all muscle pairs and all exercises.
RESULTS: MMG root mean square (RMS) was statistically significant among the fibre axes (p<0.05, η2=0.17- 0.34) except for biceps brachii and brachioradialis in supination and brachialis in flexion. Overall mean crosstalk values in the three muscle pairs (biceps brachii & brachialis, brachialis & brachioradialis and brachioradialis & biceps brachii) were found to be 6.09-52.17%, 4.01-61.42% and 2.16-51.85%, respectively. Crosstalk values showed statistical significance among all nine axes pairs (p<0.05, η2=0.16-0.51) except for biceps brachii & brachialis during pronation. The transverse axes pair generated the lowest mean crosstalk values (2.16-9.14%).
CONCLUSION: MMG signals recorded using accelerometers from the transverse axes of muscle fibres in the elbow flexors are unique and yield the least amount of crosstalk.