Self-Regulated Force and Neuromuscular Responses During Fatiguing Isometric Leg Extensions Anchored to a Rating of Perceived Exertion
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to examine the fatigue-related patterns of responses for electromyography (EMG), mechanomyography (MMG), and force during a sustained isometric muscle action anchored to RPE = 5. Ten men (22.9 ± 2.0 year) performed maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC) prior to and following an isometric leg extension muscle action, which was sustained for a maximal time-limit of 5 min or until it could not be maintained at RPE = 5 (actual time-limit). EMG amplitude (AMP), EMG mean power-frequency (MPF), MMG AMP, MMG MPF, and force values were determined every 5% of the actual time-limit. Regression analyses were used to examine the neuromuscular parameters and force responses, and a t test was used to examine MVIC. The pretest MVIC (62.4 ± 14.3 kg) was significantly (p < 0.001; d = 1.07) greater than posttest (47.9 ± 12.8 kg). The percent decline in force during the sustained isometric muscle action was 47.5 ± 19.6%, and there was a significant, negative force versus time relationship (p < 0.001; R = - 0.980). There was a significant, negative EMG AMP versus time relationship (p < 0.001; R = -0.789), but no significant (p > 0.05) relationships for EMG MPF, MMG AMP, or MMG MPF versus time. The findings indicated that it was necessary to reduce force and EMG AMP to maintain RPE = 5. We hypothesize that the maintenance of RPE = 5 was initially accomplished by an anticipatory feedforward mechanism and then continuous integrations of afferent feedback, which resulted in reductions of EMG AMP and force, due to reductions in neural drive, to attenuate the impact of metabolic byproducts.
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- Authors
- Keller, J. L., Housh, T. J., Hill, E. C., Smith, C. M., Schmidt, R. J., & Johnson, G. O.
- Affiliations
- University of Nebraska–Lincoln (US)
- University of Central Florida (US)
- The University of Texas at El Paso (US)
- Corresponding author
- Keller, Joshua L.
- Venue
- Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback
- Published
- 2019-09-07
- Volume
- 44
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 343-350
- ISSN
- 0363-3586 (ISSN-L)
- 1090-0586
- 1573-3270
- OpenAlex
- W2971393639
- Cited by
- 22
- References
- 42
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1
- FWCI
- 0.62
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- scholarworks - UTEP (The University of Texas at El Paso) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Muscle activation and electromyography studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
- Keywords
- rating of perceived exertion, leg extension, electromyography amplitude, mean power frequency, neural drive, afferent feedback, maximal voluntary contraction
- MeSH terms
- Self-Control, Adult, Electromyography, Physical Exertion, Humans, Isometric Contraction, Male, Muscle, Skeletal, Muscle Fatigue, Young Adult
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