Difference in age-related changes in surface electromyogram of tibialis anterior and triceps surae

Abstract

We have investigated the dissimilarity between age-associated changes of surface electromyogram (sEMG) of tibialis anterior (TA) and triceps surae (TS) muscles. Thirty-six participants from two cohorts with equal representation of younger (20-30 years) and older (60-85 years) cohorts performed isometric dorsi and plantar-flexion at 30% maximal voluntary contraction and their surface electromyograms (sEMG) of TA and TS were recorded. The maximal power spectral density (P M ) was computed for the recordings and an analysis of variance statistical test was performed with age and muscle as factors (α=0.05). The results show that age-associated change of P M was significantly higher for TA compared with TS muscles. This could be attributed to soleus which has been earlier found to have smaller age-related changes. The study highlights the need to consider the disproportionate age-associated changes in sEMG of the two muscles while examining the muscle strength of the elderly.