Features of electromyography threshold of the respiratory muscles during incremental exercise test

Abstract

In this study, we aimed to examine the electromyography threshold (EMGT) of the respiratory muscle and accessory respiratory muscles. Sixteen healthy men underwent an incremental exercise test at 15 W/minute to the end point. Expired gases and electromyograms of the respiratory and lower limb muscles were measured. The breakpoints for the EMG and expired gas data were analyzed using a segmented regression model. EMGT of the sternocleidomastoid and diaphragm was significantly more delayed than the ventilation threshold (VT) (287.94 s, 288.15 s vs. 185.5 s, p = 0.028 and 0.044, respectively). The EMGT of respiratory muscles and VT were not related, though EMGT of rectus femoris and vastus lateralis correlated with VT (r = 0.854, p < 0.001; r = 0.657, p = 0.011, respectively). EMGT of respiratory muscles may be influenced by multiple factors, such as central command and afferent input of mechanical stimulation from muscles, in addition to VT-induced changes in metabolic dynamics.

Keywords: Electromyogram; Electromyography threshold; Exercise; Incremental exercise test; Respiratory muscles; Ventilatory threshold.