Spectral analysis of erector spinae EMG during intermittent isometric fatiguing exercise

The applicability of EMG spectral analysis in the study of muscular fatigue of the erector spinae muscle was investigated. At three locations (L1, L2, L5) of the erector spinae muscle, representing different functional parts, EMG was sampled during fatiguing intermittent isometric extension of the trunk. The multifidus muscle (L5) appeared to show the most consistent changes of the EMG power spectrum as a consequence of fatigue. Whether the effects of the increase in muscle temperature on the power spectrum could be eliminated by low-pass filtering the data (60 Hz and 40 Hz) was also investigated. It was expected that this would make it possible to detect better the effects of fatigue on the firing characteristics of the motorunits by the inherent changes in the power spectrum. Low-pass filtering did not cause a more significant trend of the median frequency of the power spectrum. Future research will have to explore which parts of the power spectrum are affected by an increase of the muscle temperature.