Introduction: The onsets of the electromyographic (EMG) signal, mechanomyographic (MMG) signal, and force production were used to identify voluntary electromechanical delay (EMD) during maximal and submaximal leg extensions.
Methods: Twelve men performed 30% 1-repetition-maximum concentric, dynamic constant external resistance leg extensions to failure. The time periods for the onsets of EMG to MMG (EMDE-M ), MMG to force (EMDM-F ), and EMG to force (EMDE-F ) were assessed before, during, and after testing.
Results: Pretest vs. posttest assessments indicated approximately equal contributions from excitation-contraction coupling (EMDE-M ) and series elastic component (EMDM-F ) to the overall EMDE-F . During the workbout, excitation-contraction coupling failure and increases in the compliance of the series elastic component began at 40% and 30% of the repetitions to failure, respectively, and continued to failure.
Conclusions: Increases in the series elastic component (EMDM-F ) began to affect EMDE-F before excitation-contraction coupling failure (EMDE-M ), and both contributed to EMDE-F throughout the remainder of the fatiguing workbout. Muscle Nerve 56: 315-320, 2017.
Keywords: electromyography; excitation-contraction coupling failure; fatigue; mechanomyography; series elastic component.
© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.