Mechanomyographic mean power frequency during an isometric trapezoid muscle action at multiple contraction intensities

This study examined the mechanomyographic mean power frequency (MMG(MPF))-force relationships for five (age = 19.20 +/- 0.45 years) aerobically-trained (AT), five (age = 25 +/- 4.53 years) resistance-trained (RT), and five (age = 21.20 +/- 2.17 years) sedentary (SED) individuals. Participants performed isometric trapezoidal muscle actions at 50, 60, and 70% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of the leg extensors that included linearly increasing, steady force, and linearly decreasing segments. MMG was recorded from the vastus lateralis. Linear regressions were fit to the natural-log transformed MMG(MPF) versus natural log-transformed force relationships (linearly increasing and decreasing segments) with the b (slope) and a (y-intercept) terms used for comparisons. MMG(MPF) was averaged for the entire steady force segment. The b and a terms were not different among training statuses (P > 0.05) or linearly increasing and decreasing segments (P > 0.05). There were muscle action-related differences in the b terms as a function of training status from the 70% MVC. The SED had greater b terms during the linearly increasing than decreasing muscle action (P = 0.010), and the converse was true for the AT (P = 0.013), whereas the RT displayed no muscle action-related differences (P > 0.05). The unique muscle action-related differences in the b terms as a function of training status may be the result of unique adaptations to motor unit activation and deactivation strategies.