Interaction between age and fatigue on antagonist muscle coactivation during an acute post-fatigue recovery phase

This study investigated the age-related changes in antagonist muscle coactivation of the biceps femoris (BF) during an acute recovery period following a leg extensor fatiguing protocol. Twenty-three young (mean ± SD: age = 25.1 ± 3.0 years) and twenty-three old men (age = 71.5 ± 3.9 years) participa...

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Main Authors: Sara A. Harper, Brennan J. Thompson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2022-10-01
Series:Frontiers in Aging
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fragi.2022.1005080/full
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author Sara A. Harper
Sara A. Harper
Brennan J. Thompson
Brennan J. Thompson
author_facet Sara A. Harper
Sara A. Harper
Brennan J. Thompson
Brennan J. Thompson
author_sort Sara A. Harper
collection DOAJ
description This study investigated the age-related changes in antagonist muscle coactivation of the biceps femoris (BF) during an acute recovery period following a leg extensor fatiguing protocol. Twenty-three young (mean ± SD: age = 25.1 ± 3.0 years) and twenty-three old men (age = 71.5 ± 3.9 years) participated. Surface electromyography (sEMG) was recorded from the BF muscles for antagonist muscle coactivation. Testing involved participants performing leg extension isometric maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) and isokinetic MVCs at 240°·s−1 at baseline (Pre) and again after the fatigue protocol at 0 (Post0), 7 (Post7), 15 (Post15), and 30 (Post30) minutes post fatigue. Root mean square (RMS) values were computed from the BF sEMG and were calculated as the first 200 ms from onset for the isometric (IsomCoact200ms) and dynamic isokinetic 240°·s−1 (DynCoact200ms) MVCs, and for the final 10° of the leg extension (DynCoact10°) on the isokinetic 240°·s−1 MVCs. Two-way ANOVAs [age group (young vs. old) × time (Pre vs. Post0 vs. Post7 vs. Post15 vs. Post30)] showed that DynCoact200ms had an effect for time (p = 0.018), with greater antagonist coactivation in Pre than Post0 (p = 0.009) and recovering by Post7 (p = 0.011) with no group differences. DynCoact10° had no age × time interaction (p = 0.070), but had a main effect for time (p = 0.020) with the Post0 being lower than the Pre. However, for this variable the young group showed a more severe Pre to Post0 fatigue decline (−45.9%) than the old group (−6.7%) indicating this may be a more sensitive variable for capturing age-related antagonist coactivation post-fatigue responses. Leg extensor fatigue affects some BF coactivation sEMG variables more than others, and any altered post-fatigue coactivation response recovers rapidly (<7 min) from baseline levels.
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spelling doaj.art-fd5c5d5234d245fe8d4bdd9c2466eb3d2022-12-22T03:37:05ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Aging2673-62172022-10-01310.3389/fragi.2022.10050801005080Interaction between age and fatigue on antagonist muscle coactivation during an acute post-fatigue recovery phaseSara A. Harper0Sara A. Harper1Brennan J. Thompson2Brennan J. Thompson3Department of Kinesiology and Health Science, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United StatesSorenson Legacy Foundation Center for Clinical Excellence, Dennis Dolny Movement Research Clinic, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United StatesDepartment of Kinesiology and Health Science, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United StatesSorenson Legacy Foundation Center for Clinical Excellence, Dennis Dolny Movement Research Clinic, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United StatesThis study investigated the age-related changes in antagonist muscle coactivation of the biceps femoris (BF) during an acute recovery period following a leg extensor fatiguing protocol. Twenty-three young (mean ± SD: age = 25.1 ± 3.0 years) and twenty-three old men (age = 71.5 ± 3.9 years) participated. Surface electromyography (sEMG) was recorded from the BF muscles for antagonist muscle coactivation. Testing involved participants performing leg extension isometric maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) and isokinetic MVCs at 240°·s−1 at baseline (Pre) and again after the fatigue protocol at 0 (Post0), 7 (Post7), 15 (Post15), and 30 (Post30) minutes post fatigue. Root mean square (RMS) values were computed from the BF sEMG and were calculated as the first 200 ms from onset for the isometric (IsomCoact200ms) and dynamic isokinetic 240°·s−1 (DynCoact200ms) MVCs, and for the final 10° of the leg extension (DynCoact10°) on the isokinetic 240°·s−1 MVCs. Two-way ANOVAs [age group (young vs. old) × time (Pre vs. Post0 vs. Post7 vs. Post15 vs. Post30)] showed that DynCoact200ms had an effect for time (p = 0.018), with greater antagonist coactivation in Pre than Post0 (p = 0.009) and recovering by Post7 (p = 0.011) with no group differences. DynCoact10° had no age × time interaction (p = 0.070), but had a main effect for time (p = 0.020) with the Post0 being lower than the Pre. However, for this variable the young group showed a more severe Pre to Post0 fatigue decline (−45.9%) than the old group (−6.7%) indicating this may be a more sensitive variable for capturing age-related antagonist coactivation post-fatigue responses. Leg extensor fatigue affects some BF coactivation sEMG variables more than others, and any altered post-fatigue coactivation response recovers rapidly (<7 min) from baseline levels.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fragi.2022.1005080/fullagingelectromyographybiceps femorisolder adultsquadricepshamstrings
spellingShingle Sara A. Harper
Sara A. Harper
Brennan J. Thompson
Brennan J. Thompson
Interaction between age and fatigue on antagonist muscle coactivation during an acute post-fatigue recovery phase
Frontiers in Aging
aging
electromyography
biceps femoris
older adults
quadriceps
hamstrings
title Interaction between age and fatigue on antagonist muscle coactivation during an acute post-fatigue recovery phase
title_full Interaction between age and fatigue on antagonist muscle coactivation during an acute post-fatigue recovery phase
title_fullStr Interaction between age and fatigue on antagonist muscle coactivation during an acute post-fatigue recovery phase
title_full_unstemmed Interaction between age and fatigue on antagonist muscle coactivation during an acute post-fatigue recovery phase
title_short Interaction between age and fatigue on antagonist muscle coactivation during an acute post-fatigue recovery phase
title_sort interaction between age and fatigue on antagonist muscle coactivation during an acute post fatigue recovery phase
topic aging
electromyography
biceps femoris
older adults
quadriceps
hamstrings
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fragi.2022.1005080/full
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