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Determining The Electromyographic Fatigue Threshold Following a Single Visit Exercise Test
Published on: July 27, 2015
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Neuromuscular Fatigue During Heavy Resistance Drop Set Training to Failure.
Markus Due Jakobsen1, Emil Sundstrup, Lars Louis Andersen
1National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research
|February 24, 2026
Summary
Heavy resistance drop set training to failure causes significant neuromuscular fatigue across multiple leg muscles. This research provides insights for optimizing resistance exercise programming to maximize muscle fatigue.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Sports Science
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Momentary muscular fatigue is a key factor in resistance training program design.
- Limited understanding exists regarding neuromuscular fatigue accumulation during complete resistance training sessions, particularly drop sets.
- Previous research often concentrates on neuromuscular activity during single repetitions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the neuromuscular responses during a leg press drop set (DS) training bout until momentary muscular fatigue.
- To analyze changes in electromyographic (EMG) activity and other neuromuscular indices throughout the DS routine.
- To provide data informing effective resistance exercise programming for maximizing muscular fatigue.
Main Methods:
- Nineteen novice participants (6 women, 13 men, aged 28-67) performed a 3-set leg press drop set routine to muscle failure at 10-12 repetition maximum loads.
- Electromyographic activity was recorded from six leg muscles: vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and gluteus maximus.
- Neuromuscular fatigue was assessed using Normalized EMG (nEMG), Wavelet Index Ratio (WIRW51), and Median Power Frequency (MPF), alongside knee joint angles measured by inclinometers.
Main Results:
- Normalized EMG (nEMG) increased across repetitions in most muscles but did not differ significantly between sets.
- Median Power Frequency (MPF) decreased with repetitions and across sets for most muscles, indicating fatigue.
- Wavelet Index Ratio (WIRW51) increased within repetitions and across sets for most muscles, suggesting neuromuscular fatigue. Range of motion and contraction time decreased with accumulated repetitions.
Conclusions:
- Drop set resistance training induces substantial neuromuscular fatigue across various leg muscle groups.
- The observed changes in nEMG, MPF, and WIRW51 provide objective evidence of neuromuscular fatigue development.
- Findings support the use of drop sets for inducing significant muscular fatigue, informing targeted resistance exercise programming.
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