Analysis of the Tonic Vibration Reflex: Influence of Vibration Variables on Motor Unit Synchronization and Fatigue

Details

• Personal Author:
  Martin, Bernard J. ; Park HS
• Description:
  The influence of vibration frequency (40, 80, 100, 120, 150, or 200 Hz) at selected displacement amplitudes (0.2, 0.3 mm) on tonic vibration reflex (TVR) characteristics was investigated. The degree of synchronization of motor unit activity with vibratory stimuli in ten humans was determined using the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the finger and wrist flexor muscles when vibration was applied to the distal tendons of the hand flexor muscles. The EMG spectral analysis indicates that harmonic and subharmonic motor unit synchronization mechanisms contribute to the modulation of the amplitude of the TVR as the vibration frequency increases. Harmonic synchronization decreases while subharmonic synchronization increases as vibration frequency increases. It is suggested that the synchronization process influences muscle fatigue, since it forces the driving of motor units, leading to a decrease in contraction efficiency. This phenomenon most probably results from an impairment of excitation-contraction coupling. High-frequency vibration (> 150 Hz) tends to induce less motor unit synchronization in a frequency range beyond the known mechanical resonance of biological tissues. The findings of this study may be applied to the design of hand-held power tools, since their vibration triggers the TVR in active muscles. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Eye Fatigue Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Safety Sense Organs Vibration
• Keywords:
  Fatigue-properties Muscles Physiology Sensory-motor-system Sensory-perceptual-processes Vibration-disease Vibration-effects Visual-motor-performance
• ISSN:
  0301-5548
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Michigan ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  75
• Issue:
  6
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20031025
• Citation:
  Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol 1997 May; 75(6):504-511
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  1997
• Performing Organization:
  University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, MI
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  19920501
• Source Full Name:
  European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology
• End Date:
  19941231
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:d5a8add02439030685d7b007f500090ce6cf2e3f60306788618909955aa04558d23d51588be304cc1b5830017bea847ebe9a6c1ae4fb56b8338ef89bbe5d9f42
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/191420/cdc_191420_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 327.95 KB ]