An examination of the frequency-specific behavior of the mechanomyographic amplitude versus isometric torque relationship.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the patterns of responses for mechanomyographic (MMG) amplitude versus isometric torque in different frequency bands for the vastus lateralis (VL), rectus femoris (RF), and vastus medialis (VM) muscles. Eleven men (mean +/- SD age = 20.1 +/- 1.1 yrs) performed submaximal to maximal isometric step muscle actions of the dominant leg extensors from 10% to 100% of the maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). During each muscle action, three separate surface mechanomyographic (MMG) signals were detected from the VL, RF and VM. Each MMG signal was decomposed into 9 different frequency bands (5-15, 15-25, 25-35, 35-45, 45-55, 55-65, 65-75, 75-85, and 85-95 Hz), and the root-mean-square amplitude of the signal in each frequency band was calculated. The results showed that for the VL and RF muscles, MMG amplitude plateaued from 80-100% MVC in the 15-25 and 25-35 Hz frequency bands. For the VM, however, the plateau in MMG amplitude from 80-100% MVC occurred in the 5-15 and 15-25 Hz bands. These findings indicated that there were both muscle- and frequency-specific discrepancies in the MMG amplitude versus isometric torque relationship that could be due to differences in muscle architecture and/or fiber type composition.