Electromyographic amplitude versus torque relationships are different in young versus postmenopausal females and are related to muscle mass after controlling for bodyweight

Nile F. Banks; Emily M. Rogers; Nathaniel D. M. Jenkins

doi:10.1007/s00421-020-04532-0

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Electromyographic amplitude versus torque relationships are different in young versus postmenopausal females and are related to muscle mass after controlling for bodyweight

Journal article

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Electromyographic amplitude versus torque relationships are different in young versus postmenopausal females and are related to muscle mass after controlling for bodyweight

Nile F. Banks, Emily M. Rogers and Nathaniel D. M. Jenkins

European journal of applied physiology, Vol.121(2), pp.479-488

02/01/2021

DOI: 10.1007/s00421-020-04532-0

PMCID: PMC9762459

PMID: 33123807

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/9762459View

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Abstract

Purpose To examine differences in the electromyographic vs torque (EMG-T) relationship, as well as muscle strength and indicators of muscle mass and quality between young versus postmenopausal females, and explore whether the potential differences in the EMG-T relationships could be explained by differences in muscle mass. Methods Thirty young (age = 20.7 +/- 2.8 y) and 30 postmenopausal (age = 56.3 +/- 4.7 y) females completed maximal isometric strength testing (MVIT) and isometric ramp contractions at 40% and 70% MVIT, during which electromyographic signals were collected to quantify the slopes (Slope(40); Slope(70)) and intercepts (Intercept(40); Intercept(70)) of the EMG-T relationships. Muscle mass and quality measurements were also completed. Results Postmenopausal females exhibited lower skeletal muscle mass (- 2.3 +/- 1.5 kg), fat-free mass index (- 1.1 +/- 0.7 kg center dot m(-2)), MVIT (- 17.1 +/- 16.3 Nm), phase angle (- 0.5 +/- 0.0 degrees), muscle cross-sectional area (- 5.5 +/- 1.1 cm(2)), muscle quality (- 0.1 +/- 0.0 a.u), Slope(40) (- 0.0003 +/- 0.0002 mV center dot%MVIT-1), Slope(70) (- 0.0003 +/- 0.0002 mV center dot%MVIT-1), and had a higher echo intensity (+ 9.8 +/- 2.8 a.u), Intercept(40) (+ 0.001 +/- 0.001 mV), and Intercept(70) (+ 0.004 +/- 0.003 mV) (p <= 0.001-0.04) than the young females. The EMG-T relationship variables were correlated with both muscle mass and quality after controlling for bodyweight. When controlling for muscle mass and bodyweight, group differences in the slopes of the EMG-T relationship and muscle strength were eliminated. Conclusion Muscle mass and quality are primary contributors to the decrements in neuromuscular function observed in postmenopausal versus young females, and the preservation of muscle mass should be prioritized in the years leading up to, during, and immediately after menopause.

Physiology

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Details

Title: Subtitle: Electromyographic amplitude versus torque relationships are different in young versus postmenopausal females and are related to muscle mass after controlling for bodyweight
Creators: Nile F. Banks - Oklahoma State University
Emily M. Rogers - Oklahoma State University
Nathaniel D. M. Jenkins - Oklahoma State University
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: European journal of applied physiology, Vol.121(2), pp.479-488
DOI: 10.1007/s00421-020-04532-0
PMID: 33123807
PMCID: PMC9762459
NLM abbreviation: Eur J Appl Physiol
ISSN: 1439-6319
eISSN: 1439-6327
Publisher: Springer Nature
Number of pages: 10
Grant note: 18AIREA33960528 / American Heart Association P20GM109097 / Center for Integrative Research on Childhood Adversity
Language: English
Date published: 02/01/2021
Academic Unit: Center for Social Science Innovation; Injury Prevention Research Center; Health, Sport, and Human Physiology ; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984259397502771

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