Search results for "Motor unit"
showing 10 items of 55 documents
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…
Electrical and mechanical H(max)-to-M(max) ratio in power- and endurance-trained athletes.
2001
The aim of this study was to compare the mechanical and electromyographic (EMG) characteristics of soleus motor units activated during maximal H reflex and direct M response among subjects with different histories of physical activity. Power-trained athletes produced stronger twitches, with a higher rate of twitch tension buildup and relaxation, than their endurance counterparts for both maximal H-reflex and maximal M-wave responses. The maximal H-reflex-to-maximal M-wave ratios for both force output (twitch) and EMG wave amplitude were significantly lower in power-trained than endurance-trained athletes. However, power-trained athletes exhibited a significantly greater twitch-to-EMG ratio…
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…
Electromyographical and Perceptual Responses to Different Resistance Intensities in a Squat Protocol: Does Performing Sets to Failure With Light Load…
2015
This investigation examined peak motor unit activity during sets that differed in resistance (50, 70, or 90% 1 repetition maximum [1RM]). Ten resistance-trained men (age, 23 ± 3 years; height, 187 ± 7 cm; body mass, 91.5 ± 6.9 kg; squat 1RM, 141 ± 28 kg) were assessed by electromyography (EMG) on the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis muscles in a randomized within-subject experiment consisting of 2 test visits: a drop-set day and a single-set day using only the 50% of 1RM intensity performed to failure. At the start of each day, subjects performed 2 submaximal repetition sets (50% 1RM × 10 repetitions and 70% 1RM × 7 repetitions). On the drop-set day, subjects performed 3 consecutive max…
Changes in motor unit activity and metabolism in human skeletal muscle during and after repeated eccentric and concentric contractions.
1977
This study was designed to investigate electromyographic (EMG), muscle glycogen and blood lactate changes in quadriceps muscle group during repeated 40 maximal eccentric and concentric contractions, and to follow the recovery in EMG, muscle glycogen and serum creatine kinase values during a 4 day period following the work test. The subjects were normal males and the test order (eccentric or concentric) was randomly selected. The results indicated first, that the EMG parameters (IEMG, AMUP), muscle glycogen and blood lactate changed in a similar manner during the both fatigue loads. Despite the high tension work no selective depletion of glycogen could be observed in the slow or fast twitch …
Blood Flow Restriction Alters Motor Unit Behavior During Resistance Exercise.
2019
AbstractWe aimed to determine whether blood flow restriction (BFR) alters the characteristics of individual motor units during low-intensity (LI) exercise. Eight men (26.0±3.8 yrs) performed 5 sets of 15 knee extensions at 20% of one-repetition maximum (with and without BFR). Maximal isometric voluntary contractions (MVC) were performed before and after exercise to quantify force decrement. Submaximal isometric voluntary contractions were additionally performed for 18 s, matching trapezoidal target-force trajectories at 40% pre-MVC. EMG activity was recorded from the vastus lateralis muscle. Then, signals were decomposed to extract motor unit recruitment threshold, firing rates and action p…
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.
Stretch Reflex Responses Following Mechanical Stimulation in Power- and Endurance-Trained Athletes
1994
The basic stretch reflex responses evoked by the mechanical stimuli were investigated among different athletic groups. The tests were performed by a special ankle ergometer, which created dorsiflexion velocities from 25 deg x s-1 to 115 deg x s-1 around the ankle joint. The EMG activity of soleus (SO), gastrocnemius (GA) and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles was recorded with surface electrodes. In all subjects higher angular velocities caused higher stretch reflex responses. The endurance-trained athletes were more sensitive to the used stimuli than the power-trained athletes, because of their shorter latency times (43 +/- 7 ms vs 45 +/- 7 ms, p < 0.001 for the SO muscle and 40 +/- 8 ms vs 43…
Effect of Brief Daily Resistance Training on Occupational Neck/Shoulder Muscle Activity in Office Workers with Chronic Pain: Randomized Controlled Tr…
2013
Purpose. This study investigates the acute and longitudinal effects of resistance training on occupational muscle activity in office workers with chronic pain.Methods. 30 female office workers with chronic neck and shoulder pain participated for 10 weeks in high-intensity elastic resistance training for 2 minutes per day (n=15) or in control receiving weekly email-based information on general health (n=15). Electromyography (EMG) from the splenius and upper trapezius was recorded during a normal workday.Results. Adherence to training and control interventions were 86% and 89%, respectively. Compared with control, training increased isometric muscle strength 6% (P<0.05) and decreased neck…
Neural Activation During Submaximal Contractions Seems More Reflective of Neuromuscular Ageing than Maximal Voluntary Activation
2016
International audience; This study aimed at testing the hypothesis that differences in neural activation strategy during submaximal but not maximal plantarflexions exist between young and older men. Eleven young men (YM, 26 +/- 4 years) and thirteen old men (OM, 76 +/- 3 years) volunteered for the investigation. Maximal voluntary torque (MVT) was 38.2%, lower (p < 0.001) in OM than in YM, while voluntary activation was equivalent (similar to 97%). The relationship between the interpolated twitch torque and the voluntary torque (IT-VT relationship) was composite (curvilinear + exponential) for both age-groups. However, the OM showed accentuated concavity, as attested by the occurrence of the…