The effect of selective beta1-blockade on EMG signal characteristics during progressive endurance exercise

Citation

Hunter A, Gibson ASC, Derman WE, Lambert M, Dennis SC & Noakes TD (2002) The effect of selective beta1-blockade on EMG signal characteristics during progressive endurance exercise. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 88 (3), pp. 275-281. http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?partnerID=yv4JPVwI&eid=2-s2.0-0036886635&md5=7ecdf82d22298ca66fbeb434cf69c9c5; https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-002-0710-5

Abstract
This study analysed the effect of selective b1- blockade on neuromuscular recruitment characteristics during progressive endurance exercise. Ten healthy subjects ingested a selective b1-blocker, acebutolol (200 mg b.d.), for 7 days (for one of two cycling trials), with a 10-day wash-out period between trials. On the last day of acebutolol ingestion subjects performed three successive 15-min rides at 30%, 50% and 70% of their peak power output and then cycled at increasing (15 W min-1) work rates to exhaustion. Force output, heart rate, submaximal V_O2, rate of perceived exertion (RPE), electromyographic (EMG) data and blood lactate were captured during the cycling activity. Peak work rate [270 (111) W vs 197 (75) W, CON vs BETA, P<0.01], time to exhaustion [49.7 (23.2) min vs 40.3 (23.7) min, CON vs BETA, P <0.05] and heart rate [mean, for the full ride 135.5 (38.3) beats min-1 vs 111.5 (30.0) beats min-1 CON vs BETA, P <0.05] were significantly lower for the group who ingested b1-blockade (BETA) compared to the control group (CON). Although not significant, submaximal V_O2 was reduced in BETA during the ride, while RPE was significantly higher during the ride for BETA (P <0.01). Mean integrated electromyography was higher in the BETA group although these differences were not significant. Mean power frequency values of the BETA group showed a significant (P <0.05) shift to the upper end of the spectrum in comparison to the control group. Lactate values [11.7 (3.5) mmol.l-1 vs 7.1 (4.1) mmol.l-1 CON vs BETA] were significantly lower (P <0.05) at exhaustion in BETA. Significant reductions in cycling performance were found when subjects ingested b1- blockers. This study has shown significant shifts to the upper end of the EMG frequency spectrum after b1- blocker ingestion, which could be caused by a change in neuromuscular recruitment strategy to compensate for the impaired submaximal exercise performance.

Keywords
β1-Blockade; Fatigue; Integrated electromyography; Mean power frequency spectrum

Journal
European Journal of Applied Physiology: Volume 88, Issue 3

People

Professor Angus Hunter

Honorary Professor, FHSS Management and Support