Search results for "Motor neuron"
showing 10 items of 140 documents
Motor unit activation patterns during isometric, concentric and eccentric actions at different force levels.
2002
Motor unit activation patterns were studied during four different force levels of concentric and eccentric actions. Eight male subjects performed concentric and eccentric forearm flexions with the movement range from 100 degrees to 60 degrees in concentric and from 100 degrees to 140 degrees elbow angle in eccentric actions. The movements were started either from zero preactivation or with isometric preactivation of the force levels of 20, 40, 60 and 80% MVC. The subjects were then instructed to maintain the corresponding relative force levels during the dynamic actions. Intramuscular and surface EMG was recorded from biceps brachii muscle. Altogether 28 motoneuron pools were analyzed using…
Diurnal Variation in Maximal and Submaximal Strength, Power and Neural Activation of Leg Extensors in Men: Multiple Sampling Across Two Consecutive D…
2007
This study aimed to compare day-to-day repeatability of diurnal variation in strength and power. Thirty-two men were measured at four time points (07 : 00 - 08 : 00, 12 : 00 - 13 : 00, 17 : 00 - 18 : 00, and 20 : 30 - 21 : 30 h) throughout two consecutive days (day 1 and day 2). Power during loaded squat jumps, torque and EMG during maximal (MVC) and submaximal (MVC40) voluntary isometric knee extension contractions were measured. The EMG/torque ratio during MVC and MVC40 was calculated to evaluate neuromuscular efficiency. A significant time-of-day effect with repeatable diurnal patterns was found in power. In MVC, a significant time-of-day effect was present on day 2, whereas day 1 showed…
Effect of electromyostimulation training on soleus and gastrocnemii H- and T-reflex properties.
2003
When muscle is artificially activated, as with electromyostimulation (EMS), action potentials are evoked in both intramuscular nerve branches and cutaneous receptors, therefore activating spinal motoneurons reflexively. Maximal soleus and gastrocnemii H- and T-reflex and the respective mechanical output were thus quantified to examine possible neural adaptations induced at the spinal level by EMS resistance training. Eight subjects completed 16 sessions of isometric EMS (75 Hz) over a 4-week period. Maximal soleus and gastrocnemii M wave (M(max)), H reflex (H(max)) and T reflex (T(max)) were compared between before and after training, together with the corresponding plantar flexor peak twit…
Grasp with hand and mouth: a kinematic study on healthy subjects
2001
Neurons involved in grasp preparation with hand and mouth were previously recorded in the premotor cortex of monkey. The aim of the present kinematic study was to determine whether a unique planning underlies the act of grasping with hand and mouth in humans as well. In a set of four experiments, healthy subjects reached and grasped with the hand an object of different size while opening the mouth ( experiments 1 and 3), or extending the other forearm ( experiment 4), or the fingers of the other hand ( experiment 5). In a subsequent set of three experiments, subjects grasped an object of different size with the mouth, while opening the fingers of the right hand ( experiments 6–8). The init…
Influence of lactate accumulation of EMG frequency spectrum during repeated concentric contractions
1983
One hundred and twenty consecutive maximal leg extensions at a constant angular velocity of 1.5 radians . s-1 were performed by nine physical education students. Integrated electromyographic (IEMG) activity and power spectrum density function (PSDF) of the EMG were recorded from m. vastus lateralis, vastus medialis and m. rectus femoris using bipolar surface electrodes. Muscle biopsies were obtained from m. vastus lateralis before and after exercise. Tissue samples were analyzed for muscle fiber type distribution and lactate and glycogen concentration. Muscle force and IEMG decreased in parallel over the exercise period. Thus, the IEMG/force ratio was unchanged. Mean power frequency (MPF) o…
Torque decrease during submaximal evoked contractions of the quadriceps muscle is linked not only to muscle fatigue.
2015
International audience; The aim of this study was to analyze the neuromuscular mechanisms involved in the torque decrease induced by submaximal electromyostimulation (EMS) of the quadriceps muscle. It was hypothesized that torque decrease after EMS would reflect the fatigability of the activated motor units (MUs), but also a reduction in the number of MUs recruited as a result of changes in axonal excitability threshold. Two experiments were performed on 20 men to analyze 1) the supramaximal twitch superimposed and evoked at rest during EMS (Experiment 1, n = 9) and 2) the twitch response and torque-frequency relation of the MUs activated by EMS (Experiment 2, n = 11). Torque loss was asses…
A comparison of lateral popliteal versus lateral midfemoral sciatic nerve blockade using ropivacaine 0.5%
2004
The midfemoral approach to the sciatic nerve (MF) is a new technique that has been used for postoperative analgesia after knee surgery. The aim of the present study was to compare efficacy, performance time, and patient acceptance of the midfemoral approach to that of the lateral approach at the level of the popliteal fossa (popliteal block [PB]).Sixty-three patients were enrolled in this prospective, randomized study. Thirty-two patients received a lateral sciatic nerve block (group PB) and 31 patients a midfemoral block (group MF). Ropivacaine 0.5% (30 mL) was used in both groups.The quality of nerve blockade was comparable in both groups. Onset of sensory block for peroneal and tibial ne…
Relationship between electrical and mechanical properties of motor units.
1990
In six healthy volunteers, the size of the motor unit action potential (MUAP) was related to its contractile behaviour. Electrical activity was determined by measuring amplitude and area of the potential, using the macro electromyography (EMG) technique. The mechanical response was characterised by contraction time, twitch force and relaxation time, recorded with the spike triggered averaging technique. With increasing tension of the whole muscle corresponding to an increasing threshold, the force of single units enlarged exponentially compared to their EMG. There was only a weak relationship between contraction time and electrical activity and none between EMG and relaxation time.
Bilateral reciprocal organisation in man: focus on IA interneurone
1994
The H reflex of flexor carpi radialis and radial-induced reciprocal inhibition were recorded in normal subjects during conditioning stimulation of the contralateral median or radial nerves. It was found that stimulation of the contralateral median nerve enhanced the degree of reciprocal inhibition exerted by the radial nerve on the median nerve, while contralateral radial nerve stimulation reduced the reciprocal inhibition exerted by the extensor on the flexor. In two subjects in which a pure extensor H reflex was recorded specular features were observed following contralateral median and radial stimulation. These findings are considered to be the electrophysiological manifestation of contr…
Evaluation of carpal tunnel syndrome in patients with polyneuropathy
1997
The difference between the median nerve latency to the second lumbrical muscle and the ulnar nerve latency to the second interosseous muscle (L-I DIFF) was tested in a prospective study to discriminate whether prolonged distal motor latency of the median nerve in patients with polyneuropathy (PNP) reflects an additional carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). We investigated 92 patients (107 hands) with CTS, 30 patients (34 hands) with PNP, 22 patients (27 hands) with CTS and coexisting PNP (PNP+CTS), and 77 controls (87 hands). L-I DIFF was significantly prolonged in both the CTS and PNP+CTS patients as compared to PNP patients and controls. It proved to be the most specific test to differentiate be…