Relation of intramuscular pressure to the force output and myoelectric signal of skeletal muscle

Abstract

The force output of the biceps brachii muscle during static isometric contractions was studied in 26 arms of 23 subjects in relation to the simultaneously recorded level of the electromyogram (EMG) and the intramuscular pressure (IMP). The EMG was picked up with wire electrodes and the IMP recorded through wick catheters or by infusion technique. The load at the wrist was monitored using a force transducer. A near linear relationship with correlation coefficients exceeding 0.96 was shown between the load on the wrist on the one hand and IMP and EMG on the other. The regression coefficients of the relation between the load and IMP or EMG varied considerably between individuals and between different measuring points in the same individual. In cases where the correlation between the wrist load on one hand and the IMP and EMG on the other was poor because of varying synergistic interaction between the flexor muscles, the EMG and IMP were always well correlated. This means that they change in the same way when the mechanical output of the muscle varies. This was also the case in three experiments where the IMP and EMG from all three elbow flexors were recorded while the subjects changed from a supinated to a pronated position supporting a constant load on the wrist. Considering these observations we present indirect evidence that IMP and the level of the EMG signal both are good estimators of isolated muscular force under isometric static conditions and over limited time.