1476-5918-7-15 1476-5918 Research <p>The relationships among endurance performance measures as estimated from VO<sub>2PEAK</sub>, ventilatory threshold, and electromyographic fatigue threshold: a relationship design</p> Graef L Jennifer Jennifer.L.Graef-1@ou.edu Smith E Abbie abbiesmith@ou.edu Kendall L Kristina krissykendall@ou.edu Walter A Ashley ashannwalter@ou.edu Moon R Jordan jordanmoon@ou.edu Lockwood M Christopher chrislockwood@ou.edu Beck W Travis tbeck@ou.edu Cramer T Joel jcramer@ou.edu Stout R Jeffrey jrstout@ou.edu

Department of Health and Exercise Science, University of Oklahoma, Huston Huffman Center, 1401 Asp Ave., Norman, OK 73019, USA

 Dynamic Medicine 1476-5918 2008 7 1 15 http://www.dynamic-med.com/content/7/1/15 18783626 10.1186/1476-5918-7-15 03 7 2008 10 9 2008 10 9 2008 2008 Graef et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Background

The use of surface electromyography has been accepted as a valid, non-invasive measure of neuromuscular fatigue. In particular, the electromyographic fatigue threshold test (EMGFT) is a reliable submaximal tool to identify the onset of fatigue. This study examined the metabolic relationship between VO2PEAK, ventilatory threshold (VT), and the EMGFT, as well as compared the power output at VO2PEAK, VT, and EMGFT.

Methods

Thirty-eight college-aged males (mean ± SD = 22.5 ± 3.5 yrs) performed an incremental test to exhaustion on an electronically-braked cycle ergometer for the determination of VO2PEAK and VT. Each subject also performed a discontinuous incremental cycle ergometer test to determine their EMGFT value, determined from bipolar surface electrodes placed on the longitudinal axis of the vastus lateralis of the right thigh. Subjects completed a total of four, 2-minute work bouts (ranging from 75–325 W). Adequate rest was given between bouts to allow for subjects' heart rate to drop within 10 beats of their resting heart rate. The EMG amplitude was averaged over 10-second intervals and plotted over the 2-minute work bout. The resulting slopes from each successive work bout were used to calculate EMGFT.

Results

Power outputs and VO2 values from each subject's incremental test to exhaustion were regressed. The linear equations were used to compute the VO2 value that corresponded to each fatigue threshold. Two separate one-way repeated measure ANOVAs indicated significant differences (p < 0.05) among metabolic parameters and power outputs. However, the mean metabolic values for VT (1.90 ± 0.50 l·min-1) and EMGFTVO2(1.84 ± 0.53 l·min-1) were not significantly different (p > 0.05) and were highly correlated (r = 0.750). Furthermore, the mean workload at VT was 130.7 ± 37.8 W compared with 134.1 ± 43.5 W at EMGFT (p > 0.05) with a strong correlation between the two variables (r = 0.766).

Conclusion

Metabolic measurements, as well as the power outputs at VT and EMGFT, were strongly correlated. The significant relationship between VT and EMGFT suggests that both procedures may reflect similar physiological factors associated with the onset of fatigue. As a result of these findings, the EMGFT test may provide an attractive alternative to estimating VT.

Background

Matsumoto et al. 1 and Moritani et al. 2 have proposed an incremental cycle ergometer test utilizing fatigue curves to identify the maximal power output at which an individual can maintain without evidence of fatigue, described as the electromyographic fatigue threshold (EMGFT). The EMGFT test is an adaptation to deVries' 3 original monopolar physical working capacity at the fatigue threshold (PWCFT) test, using a bipolar supramaximal protocol. The EMGFT involves determining the rate of rise in electrical activity from the vastus lateralis during four, two-minute work bouts on a cycle ergometer, with varying power outputs. It has been suggested that the rise in electrical activity is a result of progressive recruitment of additional motor units (MU) and/or an increase in the firing frequency of MUs that have already been recruited. Several investigations have used surface electromyography to characterize the fatigue-induced increase in EMG amplitude, as well as to identify the power output associated with the onset of neuromuscular fatigue during cycle ergometry 1245678. Matsumoto et al. 1 described the EMGFT as the highest intensity sustainable on a cycle ergometer without signs of neuromuscular fatigue. In addition, Moritani et al. 2 suggested a strong physiological link between myoelectrical changes at fatigue and anaerobic threshold. Furthermore, the EMGFT method has been reported as a valid and reliable technique for examining the transition from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism during exercise 467. Identifying a reliable, non-invasive way to measure and predict the onset of fatigue has potential use in clinical populations, as well as serving as a training tool for those with minimal testing equipment. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the metabolic relationship between VO2PEAK, ventilatory threshold (VT), and the EMGFT, as well as to compare the power output at VO2PEAK, VT, and EMGFT.

Methods

Participants

Thirty-eight recreationally trained (1–5 hours/week), college-aged men (Table 1) volunteered to participate in this study. All procedures were approved by the University of Oklahoma Institutional Review Board for Human Subjects, and written informed consent was obtained from each participant prior to any testing.

<p>Table 1</p>

Descriptive statistics (mean ± SD) of the subjects.

Subjects (n = 35)

Age (yrs)

22.6 ± 3.5

Height (cm)

177.1 ± 7.1

Weight (kg)

77.0 ± 11.0

Determination of VO2PEAK and Ventilatory Threshold

Participants performed a continuous graded exercise test (GXT) on an electronically-braked cycle ergometer (Corival Lode 400, Groningen, The Netherlands) to determine maximal oxygen consumption (VO2PEAK) and ventilatory threshold (VT). Following a five-minute warm-up (50 W), the workload was increased 25 W every two minutes until the participants were unable to maintain 70 rpm, or until volitional fatigue.

Ventilatory threshold was determined as a plot of ventilation (VE) vs. oxygen consumption (VO2), as described previously 9. Two linear regression lines were fit to the lower and upper portions of the VE vs. VO2 curve before and after the break points, respectively. The intersection of these two lines was defined as VT.

Gas Exchange Analysis

Open circuit spirometry was used to analyze the gas exchange data using the Parvo-Medics TrueOne 2400® Metabolic Measurement System (Sandy, Utah, United States). Oxygen and carbon dioxide were analyzed through a sampling line after the gases passed through a heated pneumotach and mixing chamber. The data were averaged over 15-second intervals. The highest average VO2 value during the GXT was recorded as the VO2PEAK if it coincided with at least two of the following criteria: (a) a plateau in heart rate (HR) or HR values within 10% of the age-predicted HRmax, (b) a plateau in VO2 (defined by an increase of no more than 150 ml·min-1), and/or (c) an RER value greater than 1.15 10.

Electromyography

Pre-gelled bipolar (2.54 cm center-to-center) surface electrodes (Ag-Ag Cl, Quinton Quick Prep, Quinton Instruments Co., Bothell, WA) were placed over the lateral portion of the vastus lateralis muscle, midway between the greater trochanter and the lateral condyle of the femur. A reference electrode was placed over the 7th cervical vertebrae. The raw EMG signals were pre-amplified ((gain × 1,000) EMG 100C, Biopac Systems, Inc., Santa Barbara, CA), sampled at 1,000 Hz and bandpass filtered from 10–500 Hz (zero-lag 8th order Butterworth filter). All EMG amplitude values were stored on a personal computer (Dell Inspiron 8200, Dell, Inc., Round Rock, TX) and analyzed off-line using custom-written software (LabVIEW v 7.1, National Instruments, Austin, TX).

Determination of the EMGFT

Participants returned 24–48 hours after the GXT to perform the EMGFT test. Following a five-minute warm-up on an electronically-braked cycle ergometer (Quinton Corival 400), participants completed four two-minute cycling bouts at incrementally ascending workloads (75 W–300 W). The initial workload corresponded with the workload at which VT occurred, determined during the GXT. Adequate rest was given between bouts to allow for participants' heart rate to drop within 10 beats of their resting heart rate. The rate of rise in EMG amplitude values (EMG slope) from the four workloads were plotted over 120 seconds (Figure 1a). The EMG slope values for each of the four power outputs were then plotted to determine EMGFT (Figure 1b). The line of best fit was extrapolated to the y-axis, and the power output at which it intersected the y-axis was defined as the EMGFT. The participants completed the EMGFT protocol two times; familiarization trial and baseline.

<p>Figure 1</p>

Determination of EMGFT

Determination of EMGFT. a. Describes the relationship between EMG amplitude and time for the four power outputs used in the EMGFT test. The greatest slope was a result from the highest power output. b. Depicts the relationship for the power outputs versus slope coefficients with the y-intercept defined as the EMGFT.

Test-rest reliability for the EMGFT protocol, determined at the University of Oklahoma, resulted in an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.935 (SEM 5.03 W). The ICC from this lab was higher than previously reported using the vastus lateralis (ICC = 0.65) 11.

Statistical Analysis

Each participant's power outputs from the EMGFT and the VO2PEAK corresponding to the outputs during the GXT were regressed. A linear equation was developed to predict the VO2 value that corresponded to the EMGFT (EMGFTVO2). A one-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to determine differences between the EMGFTVO2, VT, and VO2PEAK. When appropriate, follow-up dependent t-test analyses were run. Correlation analyses were run to determine the strength of the relationship between EMGFT vs. VT (watts) and EMGFTVO2 vs. VT (l·min-1). All data are reported as mean ± S.E.

Results

A one-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated a significant (p < 0.001) difference among metabolic parameters for EMGFTVO2, VT, and VO2PEAK. Table 2 presents the mean metabolic and power output values for EMGFT and VT, as well as the correlation coefficients for these variables. Dependent t-test analyses resulted in no significant differences (p = 0.794) between the power output at which EMGFT and VT occurred, as well as no significant differences (p = 0.204) between the EMGFTVO2 and VT. However, the VO2PEAK values were significantly different from both parameters. Furthermore, power output and metabolic parameters for EMGFT and VT were strongly correlated (r = 0.766 and r = 0.750, respectively). Figure 2 displays the relationship between EMGFT and VT parameters for mean power output (W) and metabolic values (l·min-1). Based on significant correlation analysis (Table 2), a regression equation was developed to predict VT from EMGFT which resulted in a strong relationship with a low (less than 4% of mean) standard error of estimate (SEE):

<p>Table 2</p>

Mean ± standard error (SE) values and correlations for EMGFT and VT.

Correlation analysis

Mean ± SEM (l-min-1)

Mean ± SEM (W)

EMGFT(l-min-1)

EMGFT(W)

Electromyographic Fatigue Threshold

1.84 ± 0.09

134.11 ± 7.06

1.000

1.000

Ventilatory Threshold

1.89 ± 0.08

130.71 ± 6.13

0.750*

0.766*

*p < 0.01

 <p>Figure 2</p>

Comparison of EMGFT and VT

Comparison of EMGFT and VT. The relationship between differences in EMGFT and VT mean power outputs (W) and metabolic values (l·min-1).

VT (W) = 0.665(EMGFT) + 41.53; SEE = 13 W

Discussion

The results of the present study demonstrated support for previous work verifying the use of the EMGFT as a reliable and non-invasive method for identifying the onset of neuromuscular fatigue 1234567. In addition, a highly significant relationship between power output values at EMGFT and VT was found. Furthermore, no significant difference between metabolic values at EMGFTVO2 and VT was found. Several studies have suggested the use of the EMGFT as a simple and attractive alternative to identify the onset of fatigue 1236712. The results of the current study further support the myoelectrical and physiological similarities proposed between the EMGFT and VT.

The EMGFT theoretically represents the highest power output that can be sustained without electromyographic evidence of neuromuscular fatigue 12. In addition, the VT has been proposed to correlate with a workload that theoretically can be maintained without evidence of fatigue 7. The VT may be an indicator of the ability of the cardiovascular system to adequately supply oxygen to the working muscles to prevent muscle anaerobisis 13. Performing exercise at an intensity greater than the VT would result in an inadequate supply of oxygen to the working muscle, resulting in the recruitment of Type II muscle fibers, quickly leading to fatigue 13. The fatigued state of a muscle has been associated with changes in motor unit recruitment and/or changes in the frequency of motor unit firing resulting in an increase in EMG activity 8. Several studies have proposed a strong physiological relationship between VT and the onset of neuromuscular fatigue, with both measures representing recruitment of Type II muscle fibers due to the transition from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism 346814. As a result, there would be an increase in muscle lactate concentration corresponding to a decrease skeletal muscle pH, which may further signal arterial chemoreceptors that alter ventilatory regulating mechanisms 151617. The evidence presented in this study suggests that the EMGFT and VT may reflect similar acute physiological adaptations that occur during exercise.

The data in the present study are in agreement with previous investigations that have reported VT and EMGFT to occur at similar power outputs during cycle ergometry 137812. In addition, the current study provides new data indicating no significant difference between the VT and EMGFTVO2. In contrast, Moritani et al. determined EMGFTVO2 by calculating each participant's delta mechanical efficiency values 2, as described by Gaesser and Brooks 18, during the incremental exercise test. Although Moritani et al. reported a significant difference between VT and EMGFTVO2 using the delta mechanical efficiency technique, Gaesser and Brooks determined that this technique was not valid. However, the significant relationships (Table 2) between VT vs. EMGFT and VT vs. EMGFTVO2 found in the present study suggest the possibility of using EMGFT, rather than gas analysis, to predict VT. Based on this assumption, a regression equation was developed to predict VT from EMGFT: VT (W) = 0.665(EMGFT) + 41.53; SEE = 13 W. The strong correlation and low prediction error (SEE < 4.0%) indicate that the EMGFT test may be an alternative and salient method to predict VT.

Conclusion

In summary, the relationship between VT and EMGFTVO2 suggests a possible attractive alternative to measuring VT via gas analysis. Determining VT using gas analysis requires participants to reach volitional fatigue during a graded exercise test, and, therefore, the results may be influenced by motivation. The EMGFT test consists of submaximal workloads which should eliminate the influence of participant motivation. In addition, due to the submaximal nature of the test, it may provide a safe alternative to determining VT for clinical populations in which maximal exertion may not be safe. Furthermore, the EMGFT test may reduce or eliminate discomfort experienced during gas analysis due to the gas measurement equipment. However, additional studies are needed to validate the regression equation proposed in the present study to predict VT using EMGFT. In addition, future studies are warranted to determine whether the regression equation can accurately track changes in VT over time with training.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors' contributions

JG, AS, and KK contributed in writing and editing the manuscript along with concept and design, data acquisition, and data analysis and interpretation. AW and CL contributed in concept and design, data acquisition, and data analysis and interpretation. JM, TB, JC, and JS contributed in writing and editing the manuscript, as well as concept and design. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Acknowledgements

None

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