Correlation analysis between surface electromyography and continuous-wave near-infrared spectroscopy parameters during isometric exercise to volitional fatigue

Abstract

In this study, the process of muscular fatigue was examined using surface electromyography (sEMG) and continuous-wave near-infrared spectroscopy (cw-NIRS) simultaneously during an isometric hand grip exercise at 50% and 75% of the maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), sustained until volitional fatigue. The mean frequency of the sEMG decreased during the whole exercise, whereas the root mean square had a tendency to increase. Oxy- hemoglobin/deoxy hemoglobin concentration changes computed with cw-NIRS were found to exhibit a fast linear de- crease/increase in therst 10{20 s of the exercise, the so-called fast phase, followed by a plateau-like slow phase. The change rates were higher at 75% MVC for both the sEMG and cw-NIRS parameters. Signicant correlations were found, especially at 50% MVC, between the sEMG parameters computed for the whole exercise and cw-NIRS parameters com- puted from the early region of the exercise, i.e. infection duration and amplitude changes to the inection point. The �ndings emphasize the potential of cw-NIRS for muscle studies.