Test-retest reliability of the electromyographic fatigue threshold for cycle ergometry

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Sports Science

Background:

• Assessing muscular fatigue is crucial in exercise science and sports performance.
• The electromyographic fatigue threshold (EMGFT) is a potential biomarker for muscular fatigue.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the intersession reliability of the electromyographic fatigue threshold (EMGFT) during cycle ergometry.

Main Methods:

• 10 healthy college-aged men underwent incremental cycle ergometry tests to exhaustion on separate occasions.
• Quadriceps femoris muscle EMG amplitude versus time relationships were analyzed using linear regression.
• EMGFT was calculated based on significant positive slope coefficients in EMG-power output relationships.

Main Results:

• The electromyographic fatigue threshold (EMGFT) demonstrated excellent intersession reliability (ICC2,1 = 0.85).
• The calculated intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) fell within the "excellent" category.

Conclusions:

• The EMGFT is a reliable measure for assessing muscular fatigue in the context of cycle ergometry.
• This finding supports the use of EMGFT in exercise physiology research and performance assessment.