Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the electromyographic (EMG) indices of muscle fatigue along with biochemical marker of fatigue-that is, blood lactate-during a dynamic fatigue protocol in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) vs a healthy control group. Secondarily, it aimed to examine the association between EMG indices of muscle fatigue and blood lactate in these patients.

Methods: Thirty-four participants took part in the study: 19 individuals with T2DM (age, 53.5 ± 6.85 years) and 15 age-matched healthy controls (age, 50.2 ± 3.55 years). Participants performed a dynamic fatigue protocol consisting of 5 sets of 10 repetitions each at an intensity of the 10-repetition maximum. Surface EMG of the vastus medialis and vastus lateralis muscles was recorded during the dynamic fatigue protocol, and EMG indices such as median frequency (MF), slope of MF (MF_slope), Dimitrov muscle fatigue spectral index, and root-mean-square were evaluated for each contraction across all the 5 sets. Blood lactate concentrations were also assessed 3 times during the fatigue protocol.

Results: Findings revealed that EMG muscle fatigue indices such as MF, MF_slope, and Dimitrov muscle fatigue spectral index were significantly altered in individuals with T2DM vs healthy individuals across the sets and repetitions for both the vastus medialis (P < .001) and vastus lateralis muscles (P < .001). There was a significantly greater rise in blood lactate in individuals with T2DM than in healthy individuals (P < .001), which was not found to be associated with changes in EMG indices of muscle fatigue.

Conclusion: Findings suggest the existence of significantly greater fatigue in the knee extensor muscles of individuals with T2DM than healthy individuals.

Author keywords: Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Resistance Training; Electromyography

Author affiliations: PB, DS, MEH: Assistant Professor, Faculty of Physiotherapy, Shree Guru Gobind Singh Tricentenary University, Gurugram, Haryana-122505, India; SM: Professor and Dean, Faculty of Physiotherapy & Allied Health Sciences, Shree Guru Gobind Singh Tricentenary University, Gurugram, Haryana-122505, India

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