Electromyogram patterns during sustained low-level plantar flexions and changes in blood flow for "alternate activity" among the triceps surae muscles

Abstract

Several studies have described "Alternate activity", in which individual muscles of the synergistic muscle group alternate between high activity and silent periods, and rotate in a complementary pattern to maintain constant torque, during sustained low-level contractions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the physiological property of alternate activity among the synergists. Eight human subjects performed static contractions at an ankle joint angle of 110° plantar flexion at 10% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) for 120 min. Simultaneously, a surface electromyogram (EMG) was recorded of the triceps surae muscles. Doppler ultrasound techniques were used to measure blood velocity and the arterial diameter of the popliteal artery during exercise. Maximal torque at MVC and mean EMG (mEMG) level decreased significantly after sustained isometric low-level contractions, but there was no significant difference in the mEMG/maximal force ratio of triceps surae muscles, which is thought to indicate peripheral fatigue between pre- and post-exercise. Throughout the "Alternate activity", arterial diameter and pulse rate did not change, but blood flow significantly increased (p<0.001) depending on an increase in blood velocity. These results suggest that "Alternate activity" among the triceps surae muscles may be one mechanism that functions either to decrease or to postpone peripheral fatigue during sustained low-level contraction.