The influence of temperature on the amplitude and frequency components of the EMG during brief and sustained isometric contractions

Abstract

The influence of temperature on the amplitude and frequency components of the EMG power spectra of the surface EMG recorded over the forearm muscles was examined in five male and five female subjects during brief and fatiguing isometric contractions of their handgrip muscles. Brief (3 s) isometric contractions were exerted at tensions ranging between 10 and 100% of each subject's maximum strength while fatiguing contractions were exerted at tensions of 25, 40, and 70% of their maximum strength. The temperature of the muscles during those contractions was varied by placing the forearms of the subjects in a controlled temperature water bath at temperatures of 10, 20, 30, and 40‡ C. The results of these experiments showed that the center frequency of the power spectra of the surface EMG was directly related to the temperature of the exercising muscles during brief isometric contractions. During fatiguing isometric contractions, the amplitude of the EMG increased while the center frequency of the EMG power spectra decreased for all tensions examined.