Influence of fatigue on the simulated relation between the amplitude of the surface electromyogram and muscle force

A linear relation between surface electromyogram (EMG) amplitude and muscle force is often assumed and used to estimate the contributions of selected muscles to various tasks. In the presence of muscle fatigue, however, changes in the properties of muscle fibre action potentials and motor unit twitch forces can alter the relation between surface EMG amplitude and force. A novel integrative model of motor neuron control and the generation of muscle fibre action potentials was used to simulate surface EMG signals and muscle force during three fatigue protocols. The change in the simulated relation between surface EMG amplitude and force depended on both the level of fatigue and the details of the fatiguing contraction. In general, surface EMG amplitude overestimated muscle force when fatigue was present. For example, surface EMG amplitudes corresponding to 60 per cent of the amplitude obtained at maximal force without fatigue corresponded to forces in the range 10-40% of the maximal force across three representative fatigue protocols. The results indicate that the surface EMG amplitude cannot be used to predict either the level of muscle activation or the magnitude of muscle force when the muscle exhibits any fatigue.