Role of Artificial Intelligence in Predicting Muscle Fatigue Using Virtual Reality Training

Participants were divided into two groups, one consisting of healthy individuals and another consisting of Covid-19 subjects. Both groups received a familiarization training for the exercise to be performed with 15 minutes of rest afterwards, before the start of the data collection.

Squatting exercise was performed using a virtual reality (VR) machine (kynapsis) for guidance in both groups. Squats were performed while the hands were kept in front of the bodies and the knees flexed to 90 degrees following a rhythm of two seconds for descent, two second ascent mimicking the movement done on the VR machine.

Additional variables were considered, including chest expansion, and the range of motion using an electric goniometer, all being measured and recorded using the Biopac (BIOPAC Systems, Inc., Santa Barbara, CA) that, according to evidence, possess a high-pass frequency filter and bipolar electrode system.

The muscles tested are the 3 heads of the QF muscle RF, VM, and VL. Their areas were cleaned using alcohol and shaved to reduce resistance of electrodes. Three disposable sEMG surface electrodes were placed, two of them on the muscle belly with 2.5cm distance between them, and one control electrode placed on the agonist side, the participant was asked to extend their knee and flex it against resistance to locate the lateral and medial vasti. sEMG electrodes were placed on the subdivisions of the QF muscle during the exercise. The extracted data is then run through an AI algorithm that will analyze and predict muscle fatigue.

The Borg (C-10) scale was explained to the participants and was present in front of them while performing the exercise as an outcome measure to assess the subjective muscle fatigue that once reached will end the exercise.

Inclusion criteria

• Non-athletic healthy individuals.
• Avoided intense activities in the past 3 days.
• Confirmed positive PCR test done within an interval of 1 year for Covid-19 group subjects.

Exclusion criteria

• Being old age geriatrics (more than 50 years old).
• Having any respiratory, cardiac, renal, neuromuscular, orthopedic, and musculoskeletal disorders.
• Smokers and some medicinal drug users must be taken into consideration because it affects the performance and increases the fatigue levels.
• Subjects not meeting any of the inclusion criteria.