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The distribution of activity among the muscles of a single group during isometric contraction

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Summary

The study of the relations between the electrical activity of a group of synergistic muscles and the biomechanical parameters characterizing the resultant movement is generally reduced to one of the muscles of this group, this muscle being considered as “equivalent”. This is in particular the case for the biceps brachii in the group of elbow flexor muscles. The validity of this concept in the case of isometric, isotonic contraction can be tested by the simultaneous utilization of surface-electrode and wire-electrode detection techniques.

It has been shown 1. that the quadratic relation between the global integrated EMG of the biceps brachii and the external force resulting from the action of the group of flexors can be extended to each of the muscles of this group (brachialis, brachioradialis, pronator teres); 2. that the slope of the relation between the integrated EMG of the biceps brachii and the force differs according to whether the hand is supine or prone. An explanation of a mechanical nature has been proposed for this phenomenon; 3. that in a given situation the relations between the different integrated EMG's remain constant whatever the value of the force.

It follows that 1. each value of the integrated EMG of a muscle equals a coefficient times the value of the force exerted by this muscle; 2. the notion of muscle equivalent is justified for a given situation.

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Maton, B., Bouisset, S. The distribution of activity among the muscles of a single group during isometric contraction. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 37, 101–109 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421696

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