Difference in age-related changes in surface electromyogram of tibialis anterior and triceps surae

Abstract

We have investigated the dissimilarity between age-associated changes of surface electromyogram (sEMG) of tibialis anterior (TA) and triceps surae (TS) muscles. Thirty-six participants from two cohorts with equal representation of younger (20–30 years) and older (60–85 years) cohorts performed isometric dorsi and plantar-flexion at 30% maximal voluntary contraction and their surface electromyograms (sEMG) of TA and TS were recorded. The maximal power spectral density (PM) was computed for the recordings and an analysis of variance statistical test was performed with age and muscle as factors (α = 0.05). The results show that age-associated change of PM was significantly higher for TA compared with TS muscles. This could be attributed to soleus which has been earlier found to have smaller age-related changes. The study highlights the need to consider the disproportionate age-associated changes in sEMG of the two muscles while examining the muscle strength of the elderly.