Electrically induced muscle cramps induce hypertrophy of calf muscles in healthy adults.
J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact
; 15(2): 227-36, 2015 Jun.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-26032216
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
Skeletal muscles usually cramp at short lengths, where the tension that can be exerted by muscle fibers is low. Since high tension is an important anabolic stimulus, it is questionable if cramps can induce hypertrophy and strength gains. In the present study we investigated if electrically induced cramps (EIMCs) can elicit these adaptations.METHODS:
15 healthy male adults were randomly assigned to an intervention (IG; n=10) and a control group (CG; n=5). The cramp protocol (CP) applied twice a week to one leg of the IG, consisted of 3x6 EIMCs, of 5 s each. Calf muscles of the opposite leg were stimulated equally, but were hindered from cramping by fixating the ankle at 0° plantar flexion (nCP).RESULTS:
After six weeks, the cross sectional area of the triceps surae was similarly increased in both the CP (+9.0±3.4%) and the nCP (+6.8±3.7%). By contrast, force of maximal voluntary contractions, measured at 0° and 30° plantar flexion, increased significantly only in nCP (0° +8.5±8.8%; 30° 11.7±13.7%).CONCLUSION:
The present data indicate that muscle cramps can induce hypertrophy in calf muscles, though lacking high tension as an important anabolic stimulus.
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Músculo Esquelético
/
Estimulação Elétrica
/
Cãibra Muscular
Tipo de estudo:
Clinical_trials
Limite:
Adult
/
Humans
/
Male
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact
Assunto da revista:
FISIOLOGIA
/
NEUROLOGIA
/
ORTOPEDIA
Ano de publicação:
2015
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Alemanha