The effect of lymph drainage on the myoelectric manifestation of vastus lateralis fatigue: Preliminary results

Variations in surface electromyograms (EMGs) collected from the vastus lateralis muscle during isometric fatiguing contractions were investigated pre-post lymphatic drainage (intervention group, N=3) and pre-post rest (control group, N=3). The slope of conduction velocity and of EMG amplitude and spectral descriptors was computed from the start to the failure time; the instant after which subjects could not endure contractions. When compared to subjects in the control group, those in the intervention group endured longer. Similarly, muscle fatigue affected to a lesser extent EMGs following lymphatic drainage than following rest. These preliminary results suggest the lymphatic drainage may potentially delay muscle fatigue.