Project Info

Effects of Exercise Biomechanics on Muscle Fatigue

Katie Knaus
katherine.knaus@mines.edu

Project Goals and Description:

The goal of this project is to measure muscle fatigue, the reduction in muscle force/power in response to contractile activity and assess its effects on joint strength and on functional movements. Specifically, this project will use isokinetic dynamometry and surface electromyography (EMG) to assess baseline joint strength and muscle activity in maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MIVC) in ankle plantarflexion/dorsiflexion. Isokinetic dynamometry will be used for a muscle exercise protocol involving a prescribed succession of concentric or eccentric contractions to induce fatigue. Following the exercise protocol, MVIC testing will be repeated to quantify fatigue effects to relate to muscle activity during exercise. To understand human performance, we want to understand an individual’s capacity for functional movement at the onset of an activity and how that capacity might change while sustaining activity over an extended period. This knowledge of fundamental muscle function has important and interesting in implications in many areas of human movement and biomechanics research and applications in multiple populations, including military service members and athletes.

More Information:

Grand Challenge: Not applicable.
Isokinetic dynamometry: https://humacnorm.com/what-is-an-isokinetic-dynamometer/ Background on muscle function: https://muscle.ucsd.edu/refs/musintro/ CITI Human Subjects Training (citiprogram.org) Relevant publications:
  1. Adaptation of lower limb movement patterns when maintaining performance in the presence of muscle fatigue. Mudie, K., Gupta, A., Green, S., Clothier, P. (2016). Human Movement Science, 48:28-36. DOI:1016/j.humov.2016.04.003
  2. Habets, Bas, J. Bart Staal, Marsha Tijssen, and Robert van Cingel. 2018. “Intrarater Reliability of the Humac NORM Isokinetic Dynamometer for Strength Measurements of the Knee and Shoulder Muscles.” BMC Research Notes 11 (1): 15. DOI: 1186/s13104-018-3128-9
  3. Barbieri FA, dos Santos PC, Vitório R, van Dieën JH, Gobbi LT. Effect of muscle fatigue and physical activity level in motor control of the gait of young adults. Gait Posture. 2013 Sep;38(4):702-7. doi: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2013.03.006
  4. Hunter SK, Critchlow A, Shin IS, Enoka RM. Fatigability of the elbow flexor muscles for a sustained submaximal contraction is similar in men and women matched for strength. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2004 Jan;96(1):195-202. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00893.2003
  5. Enoka RM, Duchateau J. Muscle fatigue: what, why and how it influences muscle function. J Physiol. 2008 Jan 1;586(1):11-23. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2007.139477

Primary Contacts:

Professor Katie Knaus, katherine.knaus@mines.edu

Student Preparation

Qualifications

  • Introductory coding skills
  • Basic knowledge of mechanics of materials, dynamics and biology.
  • Knowledge of muscle architecture and biomechanics is preferred but not required
  • CITI Biomedical Research Training (citiprogram.org, affiliate with Mines and complete course modules)
  • Student should be self-motivated, with a desire to learn how experimental human biomechanics data is processed and used to develop insights into human performance.

TIME COMMITMENT (HRS/WK)

5

SKILLS/TECHNIQUES GAINED

Coding in a team setting, isokinetic dynamometry for exercise and assessment of joint function, clinical assessments of joint strength and functional movement performance, data analysis of surface electromyography (EMG) signals, presenting written and oral results.

MENTORING PLAN

The students will present brief research updates at biweekly lab meetings and meet with Dr. Knaus on the weeks in between. The students will also be supported by graduate students in the MyoEngineering Lab who will provide guidance with questions and equipment use. The students will be integrated into Mines biomechanics research groups with communication via Slack and professional development activities. There will be milestones with a projected timeline setup at the beginning of the academic year and will be revisited periodically.

Preferred Student Status

Sophomore
Junior
Senior
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