Upper and lower limb performance fatigability in people with multiple sclerosis investigated through surface electromyography: a pilot study

Beretta Piccoli, Matteo and Cescon, Corrado and Barbero, Marco and Villiger, Michael (2020) Upper and lower limb performance fatigability in people with multiple sclerosis investigated through surface electromyography: a pilot study. Physiological measurement, 41. ISSN 1361-6579

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Abstract

Objective: Fatigue experienced by people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) is multidimensional, consisting of different components, such as perceived, physical and cognitive fatigue and performance fatigability. At present, there is no gold standard to assess performance fatigability in pwMS; therefore, we aimed to determine whether, during a fatiguing task, average rectified value (ARV), mean frequency of the power spectrum (MNF), muscle fiber conduction velocity (CV) and fractal dimension (FD) of surface electromyography (sEMG) may be used as indirect indices of performance fatigability. Moreover, we analyzed whether a three-week rehabilitation program impacts on performance fatigability in pwMS, and whether a relationship between sEMG parameters and trait levels of perceived fatigability, before and after rehabilitation, does exist. Approach: Twentyone pwMS performed a 20% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of 1 min, and afterwards a 60% MVC held until exhaustion. sEMG signals were detected from the biceps brachii, vastus medialis and vastus lateralis. Performance fatigability was determined at entry to (t0) and discharge from (t1) rehabilitation. Perceived fatigability was measured at t0 and t2, one month after rehabilitation. Main results: ARV, MNF, CV and FD rates of change showed significant changes at t0 and t1 (p < 0.05) during the high-level contraction in the BB, but rather limited in the vastii muscles. Moreover, rehabilitation did not induce any reductions in either perceived or performance fatigability. No significant correlations between ARV, MNF, CV and FD rates of change during the 60% MVC and perceived fatigability, at t0 and t2, were found. Significance: Our findings suggest that the sEMG parameters are useful for indirectly assessing performance fatigability in pwMS during sub-maximal fatiguing contractions, particularly in the biceps brachii.

Item Type:	Scientific journal article, Newspaper article or Magazine article
Subjects:	Subjects Allied to Medicine > Anatomy, physiology & pathology > Physiotherapy
Department/unit:	Dipartimento economia aziendale, sanità e sociale > Laboratorio di ricerca in riabilitazione
Depositing User:	Ron Clijsen
Date Deposited:	22 Mar 2021 09:14
Last Modified:	22 Mar 2021 09:18
URI:	http://repository.supsi.ch/id/eprint/12474

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