Verification of dynamic muscle contraction performance by MMG / EMG ratio during dynamic exercise

Abstract

Athletic abilities are often evaluated quantitative items such as maximum voluntary muscle strength, repeat count, and best time, and do not directly evaluate the contraction ability of the target muscle. Mechanomyogram (MMG: mechanical activity) and electromyogram (EMG: electrical activity) are regarded as input / output signals of muscle contraction, and ratio of MMG and EMG (M / E ratio) can be interpreted as an indicator of muscle-specific performance. In this study, we examined whether M / E ratio could be a performance index of muscle contraction when pedaling load was gradually increased using an MMG / EMG hybrid transducer. As a result, M / E ratio tended to decrease as pedaling load increased. It was seemed that the contraction efficiency and reserve capacity of muscle are reduced. These results suggested that changes in M / E ratio at low to high pedaling loads reflected muscle performance during dynamic exercise.