Heterogeneity of muscle activation in relation to force direction: A multi-channel surface electromyography study on the triceps surae muscle

Abstract Several skeletal muscles can be divided into sub-modules, called neuromuscular compartments (NMCs), which are thought to be controlled independently and to have distinct biomechanical functions. We looked for distinct muscle activation patterns in the triceps surae muscle (TS) using surface...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of electromyography and kinesiology 2009-10, Vol.19 (5), p.882-895
Main Authors: Staudenmann, D, Kingma, I, Daffertshofer, A, Stegeman, D.F, van Dieën, J.H
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Algorithms
Anisotropy
Ankle Joint - physiology
Cluster analysis
Computer Simulation
Directional tuning
Electromyography - methods
Female
Human
Humans
Male
Models, Biological
Muscle Contraction - physiology
Muscle force
Muscle, Skeletal - physiology
Neuromuscular compartments
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Principal Component Analysis
Stress, Mechanical
Surface electromyography
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Summary:Abstract Several skeletal muscles can be divided into sub-modules, called neuromuscular compartments (NMCs), which are thought to be controlled independently and to have distinct biomechanical functions. We looked for distinct muscle activation patterns in the triceps surae muscle (TS) using surface electromyography (EMG) during voluntary contraction. Nine subjects performed isometric and isotonic plantar flexions combined with forces along pre-defined directions. Besides the forces under the ball of the foot, multi-channel surface EMG was measured with electrodes homogeneously distributed over the entire TS. Using principal component analysis, common (global) components were omitted from the EMG signals, thereby estimating muscle activity sufficiently accurate to track fine fluctuations of force during an isotonic contraction ( r = 0.80 ± 0.09). A subsequent cluster analysis showed a topographical organization of co-activated parts of the muscle that was different between subjects. Low and negative correlations between the EMG activity within clusters were found, indicating a substantial heterogeneity of TS activation. The correlations between cluster time series and forces at the foot in specific directions differed substantially between clusters, showing that the differentially activated parts of the TS had specific biomechanical functions.
ISSN:1050-6411
1873-5711
DOI:10.1016/j.jelekin.2008.04.013