Real-time surface electromyography in Parkinson's disease patients during exercise-induced muscle fatigue

To explore the mechanisms underlying exercise-induced local muscle fatigue in patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (PD),we used surface electromyography to record myoelectric signals from the tibialis anterior muscle during isometric contraction-induced fatigue until exhaustion.The results revealed no significant differences between patients with idiopathic PD and healthy controls in maximum voluntary contraction of the tibialis anterior muscle.The basic characteristics of surface electromyography were also similar between the two groups.The duration of isometric contraction at 50% maximum voluntary contraction was shortened in PD patients.In addition,PD patients exhibited a stronger increase in mean square amplitude,but a weaker decrease in median frequency and mean power frequency compared with healthy controls during isometric contraction.The skeletal muscles of PD patients revealed specificity of surface electromyography findings,indicating increased fatigability compared with healthy controls.