Effect of muscle length on the modulation of H reflex and inhibitory mechanisms of Ia afferent discharges during passive muscle lengthening.

The effectiveness of activated Ia afferents to discharge ᵯC-motoneurons is decreased during passive muscle lengthening compared with static and shortening muscle conditions. Evidence suggests that these regulations are explained by (1) greater post-activation depression induced by homosynaptic post-activation depression (HPAD) and (2) primary afferent depolarization (PAD). It remains uncertain whether muscle length impacts the muscle lengthening-related aspect of regulation of the effectiveness of activated Ia afferents to discharge ᵯC-motoneurons, HPAD, PAD and heteronymous Ia facilitation (HF). We conducted a study involving 15 healthy young individuals. We recorded conditioned or non-conditioned soleus Hoffmann (H) reflex with electromyography (EMG) to estimate the effectiveness of activated Ia afferents to discharge ᵯC-motoneurons, HPAD, PAD and HF during passive lengthening, shortening and static muscle conditions at short, intermediate and long lengths. Our results show that the decrease of effectiveness of activated Ia afferents to discharge ᵯC-motoneurons and increase of post-activation depression during passive muscle lengthening occur at all muscle lengths. For PAD and HF, we found that longer muscle length increases the magnitude of regulation related to muscle lengthening. To conclude, our findings support an inhibitory effect (resulting from increased post-activation depression) of muscle lengthening and longer muscle length on the effectiveness of activated Ia afferents to discharge α-motoneurons. The increase in post-activation depression associated with muscle lengthening can be attributed to the amplification of Ia afferents discharge.

Post-activation potentiation after isometric contractions is strongly related to contraction intensity despite the similar torque-time integral.

Post-activation potentiation (PAP) is defined as an enhanced contractile response of a muscle following its own contractile activity and is influenced by the intensity and duration of the conditioning contraction. The aim of this study was to determine if the combination of intensity and duration, that is, torque-time integral (TTI) is a determinant of PAP amplitude. We compared PAP amplitude following low-to-maximal voluntary conditioning contraction intensities with and without similar TTI in the knee extensors. Twelve healthy males completed two experimental sessions. Femoral nerve stimulation was applied to evoke single twitches on the relaxed quadriceps before and after isometric conditioning contractions of knee extensors. In one session, participants performed conditioning contractions without similar TTI (6 s at 100, 80, 60, 40 and 20% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC)), while they performed conditioning contractions with similar TTI in the other session (6 s at 100%, 7.5 s at 80%, 10 s at 60%, 15 s at 40%, and 30 s at 20% MVC). In both sessions, PAP amplitude was related to conditioning contraction intensity. The higher the conditioning contraction intensity with or without similar TTI, the higher PAP. Significant correlations were found (i) between PAP and conditioning contraction intensity with (r2 = 0.70; P < 0.001) or without similar TTI (r2 = 0.64; P < 0.001), and (ii) between PAP with and without similar TTI (r2 = 0.82; P < 0.001). The results provide evidence that TTI has a minor influence on PAP in the knee extensors. This suggests that to optimize the effect of PAP, it is more relevant to control the intensity of the contraction rather than the TTI.

Fatigue in elite fencing: Effects of a simulated competition.

The fatigue induced by fencing remains scarcely investigated. We aimed to investigate both objective (neuromuscular performance fatigability) and subjective (perceived fatigue, effort, and workload) manifestations of fatigue in elite fencers following a five-bout simulated competition. Changes in countermovement jump height, knee extensors maximal isometric torque, rate of torque development, voluntary activation, and contractile response to muscular electrical stimulation were measured in 29 elite fencers [12 epee (6 women), 11 saber (5 women), and 6 foil]. Perceived fatigue and effort were evaluated with visual analog scales, and the perceived workload with the NASA Task Load Index scale. During the competition, maximal torque and rate of torque development decreased by 1.6% (p = 0.017) and 2.4% (p < 0.001) per bout, respectively. Perceived fatigue before each bout increased (12% per bout), with similar values observed at the end of all bouts (bout × period interaction: p < 0.001). Perceived effort increased during the bouts (10% per period, p < 0.001) and during the competition (3% per bout, p = 0.011). Perceived mental demand increased during the competition (2% per bout, p = 0.024). These results suggest that elite fencers needed to increase the allocation of mental rather than physical resources to the task to counterbalance the deleterious effect of fatigue on performance.

Regulation of primary afferent depolarization and homosynaptic post-activation depression during passive and active lengthening, shortening and isometric conditions.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine whether the modulation of primary afferent depolarization (PAD) and homosynaptic post-activation depression (HPAD) are involved in the lower efficacy of Ia-afferent-α-motoneuron transmission commonly observed during lengthening compared to isometric and shortening conditions. METHODS: 15 healthy young individuals participated in two experimental sessions dedicated to measurement in passive and active muscle states, respectively. In each session, PAD, HPAD and the efficacy of Ia-afferent-α-motoneuron transmission were evaluated during lengthening, shortening and isometric conditions. PAD was evaluated with D1 inhibition technique. Posterior tibial nerve stimulation was used to study HPAD and the efficacy of the Ia-afferent-α-motoneuron transmission through the recording of the soleus Hoffmann reflex (H reflex). RESULTS: PAD was increased in lengthening than shortening (11.2%) and isometric (12.3%) conditions regardless of muscle state (P < 0.001). HPAD was increased in lengthening than shortening (5.1%) and isometric (4.2%) conditions in the passive muscle state (P < 0.05), while no difference was observed in the active muscle state. H reflex was lower in lengthening than shortening (- 13.2%) and isometric (- 9.4%) conditions in both muscle states (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: These results highlight the specific regulation of PAD and HPAD during lengthening conditions. However, the differences observed during passive lengthening compared to shortening and isometric conditions seem to result from an increase in Ia-afferent discharge, while the variations highlighted during active lengthening might come from polysynaptic descending pathways involving supraspinal centres that could regulate PAD mechanism.

Mild to moderate damage in knee extensor muscles accumulates after two bouts of maximal eccentric contractions.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine whether mild to moderate muscle damage accumulates on the knee extensors after two bouts of maximal eccentric contractions performed over two consecutive days. METHODS: Thirty participants performed an initial bout of maximal eccentric contractions of knee extensors during the first day of the protocol (ECC1). Then, they were separated in two groups. The Experimental (EXP) group repeated the eccentric bout 24 h later (ECC2) while the Control (CON) group did not. Indirect markers of muscle damage (i.e., strength loss, muscle soreness, and shear modulus) were measured to quantify the amount of muscle damage and its time course. RESULTS: Two days after the initial eccentric session, participants from EXP had a higher strength deficit (- 14.5 ± 10.6%) than CON (- 6.6 ± 8.7%) (P = 0.017, d = 0.9). Although both groups exhibited an increase in knee extensors shear modulus after ECC1, we found a significant increase in muscle shear modulus (+ 13.3 ± 22.7%; P < 0.01; d = 0.5) after ECC2 for the EXP group, despite the presence of mild to moderate muscle damage (i.e., strength deficit about 16%). CONCLUSION: Although the markers of muscle damage used in the current study were indirect, they suggest that the repetition of two bouts of maximal eccentric contractions with 24 h apart induces additional muscle damage in the knee extensors in presence of mild to moderate muscle damage.

Cold-water immersion and whole-body cryotherapy attenuate muscle soreness during 3 days of match-like tennis protocol.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of whole-body cryotherapy (WBC), cold-water immersion (CWI) and passive recovery (PAS) on tennis recovery. METHODS: Thirteen competitive male tennis players completed three consecutive match-like tennis protocols, followed by recovery (WBC, CWI, PAS) in a crossover design. Five tennis drills and serves were performed using a ball machine to standardize the fatiguing protocol. Maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) peak torque, creatine kinase activity (CK), muscle soreness, ball accuracy and velocity together with voluntary activation, low- and high-frequency torque and EMG activity were recorded before each protocol and 24 h following the third protocol. RESULTS: MVC peak torque (- 7.7 ± 11.3%; p = 0.001) and the high- to low-frequency torque ratio (- 10.0 ± 25.8%; p < 0.05) decreased on Day 1 but returned to baseline on Day 2, Day 3 and Day 4 (p = 0.052, all p > 0.06). The CK activity slightly increased from 161.0 ± 100.2 to 226.0 ± 106.7 UA L-1 on Day 1 (p = 0.001) and stayed at this level (p = 0.016) across days with no differences between recovery interventions. Muscle soreness increased across days with PAS recovery (p = 0.005), while no main effect of time was neither observed with WBC nor CWI (all p > 0.292). The technical performance was maintained across protocols with WBC and PAS, while it increased for CWI on Day 3 vs Day 1 (p = 0.017). CONCLUSION: Our 1.5-h tennis protocol led to mild muscle damage, though neither the neuromuscular function nor the tennis performance was altered due to accumulated workload induced by consecutive tennis protocols. The muscle soreness resulting from tennis protocols was similarly alleviated by both CWI and WBC. TRIAL REGISTRATION: IRB No. 2017-A02255-48, 12/05/2017.

Neuromuscular responses to isometric, concentric and eccentric contractions of the knee extensors at the same torque-time integral.

PURPOSE: The present study compared isometric, concentric and eccentric contractions at the same torque-time integral for changes in neuromuscular fatigue and muscle damage parameters. METHOD: Healthy men (18-24 years) were placed to either isometric (ISO), concentric (CONC), or eccentric (ECC) group (n = 11/group) that performed corresponding contractions of the knee extensors to exert the same amount of torque-time integral (24,427 ± 291 Nm·s). Changes in maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) torque, voluntary activation, evoked torque at 10 Hz and 100 Hz and its ratio, M-wave amplitude, and muscle soreness were assessed immediately before and after, 1 h, 1 day and 2 days after each exercise, and were compared among the groups. RESULTS: MVC torque decreased immediately after ISO (- 17.0 ± 8.3%), CONC (- 21.7 ± 11.5%) and ECC (- 26.2 ± 15.6%) similarly (p = 0.35), but the decrease sustained longer (p < 0.05) for ECC (2 days post-exercise: - 12.9 ± 14.8%) and ISO (- 5.5 ± 7.9%) than CONC (+ 5.0 ± 11.0%). Muscle soreness developed after ECC (25.1 ± 19.8 mm) and ISO (17.5 ± 21.0 mm) similarly (p = 0.15). Voluntary activation decreased immediately (- 3.7 ± 6.6%) and 1 h post-exercise (- 4.7 ± 7.6%) for all groups similarly. Electrically evoked forces decreased greater immediately (- 30.1 ± 15.6%) and 1 h post-exercise (- 35.0 ± 12.8%) for ECC than others, and the decrease in 10/100 Hz ratio was also greater immediately (- 30.5 ± 12.6%) and 1 h after ECC (- 23.8 ± 10.3%) than others. CONCLUSION: ISO, CONC and ECC with the same torque-time integral produced similar neuromuscular fatigue at immediately post-exercise, but the force loss was longer-lasting after ISO and ECC than CONC, and the changes in peripheral fatigue parameters were the greatest after ECC, suggesting greater muscle damage.

Neuromuscular fatigability amplitude and aetiology are interrelated across muscles.

NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? Is neuromuscular fatigability interrelated between different muscle groups from the same individual during isometric all-out exercise? What is the main finding and its importance? Although the average decrease can vary between muscles, an individual demonstrates interrelated fatigability aetiology regardless of the muscle group tested. The inter-individual variability provides evidence of different profiles common between muscles, which can be regarded as an individual characteristic. ABSTRACT: Neuromuscular fatigability is commonly attributed to central and peripheral origins. However, there is strong evidence of interactions between these two mechanisms. According to the idea that peripheral fatigability might be centrally regulated, one can hypothesize that neuromuscular fatigability would be correlated between different muscle groups at the individual level. Thirty-two healthy participants (16 women and 16 men) completed two 5 min fatiguing exercises [60 isometric maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs)] with finger flexors (FFs) and ankle plantar flexors (PFs) in two randomized sessions. Neuromuscular testing was conducted before, during (every six MVCs) and directly after the fatigue procedure. The force asymptote (FA ) was calculated as the asymptote of the force-time relationship. Changes (post- vs. pre-fatigue) in the exercise-evoked force (ΔDb100 ), voluntary activation (ΔVA) and central activation ratio (∆CAR) were also investigated. Significant correlations were found between FFs and PFs for FA , ΔDb100 and ΔVA (r = 0.65, r = 0.63 and r = 0.50, respectively). A significant negative correlation between ∆CAR and ∆Db100 was evidenced for both PFs (r = -0.82) and FFs (r = -0.57). Neuromuscular fatigability is correlated between different muscle groups at the individual level. The results support the idea that a restrained motor drive prevents large peripheral perturbations and that individuals exhibit correlated fatigability aetiology regardless of the muscle group tested. Widely different central/peripheral profiles can be found amongst individuals, and a part of the fatigability aetiology can be regarded as an individual characteristic.

Is there an intermuscular relationship in voluntary activation capacities and contractile kinetics?

PURPOSE: The force-generating capacities of human skeletal muscles are interrelated, highlighting a common construct of limb strength. This study aimed to further determine whether there is an intermuscular relationship in maximal voluntary activation capacities and contractile kinetics of human muscles. METHODS: Twenty-six young healthy individuals participated in this study. Isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) torque, voluntary activation level (VAL), and doublet twitch contractile kinetics (contraction time and half-relaxation time) evoked by a paired supramaximal peripheral nerve stimulation at 100 Hz were obtained in elbow flexors, knee extensors, plantar flexors and dorsiflexors of the dominant limb. RESULTS: Peak MVC torque had significant positive correlations between all muscle group pairs (all P values < 0.01). A significant positive correlation for VAL was found only between knee extensors and plantar flexors (r = 0.60, P < 0.01). There were no significant correlations between all muscle group pairs for doublet twitch contraction time and doublet twitch half-relaxation time. DISCUSSION: These results show that there is a partial common construct of maximal voluntary activation capacities that only concerns muscle groups that have incomplete activation during MVC (i.e., knee extensors and plantar flexors). This suggests that the common construct of MVC strength between these two muscle groups is partly influenced by neural mechanisms. The lack of intermuscular relationship of contractile kinetics showed that there is no common construct of muscle contractile kinetics, as assessed in vivo by investigating the time-course of evoked doublet twitch contractions.

Influence of fascicle strain and corticospinal excitability during eccentric contractions on force loss.

NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? Do neural and/or mechanical factors determine the extent of muscle damage induced by eccentric contractions? What is the main finding and its importance? The extent of muscle damage induced by eccentric contractions is related to both mechanical strain and corticospinal excitability measured at long muscle lengths during eccentric contractions. ABSTRACT: In this study, we investigated whether the mechanical and neural characteristics of maximal voluntary eccentric contractions would determine the extent of change in postexercise maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVC) torque and muscle soreness. Eleven men performed 10 sets of 15 isokinetic (45 deg s-1 ) maximal voluntary eccentric knee extensions. Knee-extension torque and vastus lateralis fascicle length were assessed at sets 1, 5 and 9. Vastus lateralis motor evoked potential, maximal M wave (MEP/M) and the cortical silent period (CSP) were measured at 75 and 100 deg of knee flexion (0 deg = full extension) during contractions and were normalized to MEP/M (MEP/Mecc/iso ) and CSP (CSPecc/iso ) recorded during isometric MVC at each angle. The MVC torque and muscle soreness of the knee extensors were assessed before, 24, 48 and 96 h after the eccentric contractions. The extent of relative decrease in MVC torque at 24 h postexercise (r2  = 0.38) and peak muscle soreness (r2  = 0.69) were correlated (P < 0.05) with MEP/Mecc/iso measured at 100 deg, but not at 75 deg. The average torque on the descending limb of the torque-angle relationship (r2  = 0.16), fascicle elongation (r2  = 0.18) and CSPecc/iso at both 75 (r2  = 0.00) and 100 deg (r2  = 0.02) were not significantly correlated with the relative decrease in MVC torque. The relative decrease in MVC torque was best predicted by a combination of mean torque on the descending limb, fascicle elongation and MEP/Mecc/iso (R2  = 0.93). It is concluded that the extent of muscle damage based on the reduction in MVC torque is determined by mechanical strain and corticospinal excitability at long muscle lengths during maximal voluntary eccentric contractions.

Is reaction time altered by mental or physical exertion?

PURPOSE: Reaction time, classically divided into premotor time and electromechanical delay (EMD), can be determinant in daily life or sport situations. While some previous studies reported a negative impact of both muscle and mental fatigue on reaction time, the respective contributions of premotor time and EMD to the changes of reaction time remains unclear. The aim of the study was, therefore, to assess the effects of both muscle and mental effort on reaction time and its components. METHODS: Thirteen subjects performed three conditions (mental effort condition, i.e., 14 min of a mathematical cognitive task; muscle effort condition, i.e., intermittent contractions of the biceps brachii; control condition, i.e., watching a documentary). Before and after each condition, reaction time, premotor time and EMD were measured during voluntary contractions of the biceps brachii. EMD was also measured during evoked contractions of the biceps brachii to separate the parts due to the onset of muscle fascicle motion and the onset of force production. RESULTS: Reaction time and premotor time remained stable regardless of the condition considered (all P values > 0.05). EMD increased only after the muscle effort condition (+ 25% during voluntary contractions, no significant; + 17% during evoked contractions, P = 0.001), mainly due to an increase in the passive part of the series elastic component. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that neither mental nor muscle effort has a negative effect on simple reaction time during voluntary contractions.

Changes in central and peripheral neuromuscular fatigue indices after concentric versus eccentric contractions of the knee extensors.

PURPOSE: To better understand neuromuscular characteristics of eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage, this study compared between concentric (CONC) and eccentric (ECC) exercises of knee extensor muscles, and the first (ECC1) and second bouts of the eccentric exercise (ECC2) for central and peripheral parameters associated with neuromuscular fatigue. METHODS: Twelve young men performed three exercise bouts separated by at least 1 week between CONC and ECC1, and 2 weeks between ECC1 and ECC2. In each exercise, maximal voluntary concentric or eccentric contractions of the knee extensors were performed until a reduction in maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVC) torque of at least 40% MVC was achieved immediately post-exercise. MVC torque, central (voluntary activation and normalised electromyographic activity), and peripheral neuromuscular indices (evoked torque and M-wave amplitude), and muscle soreness were assessed before (PRE), immediately after (POST), 1 h (1H), and 1-4 days after exercise (D1, D2, D3, and D4). RESULTS: MVC torque decreased at only POST for CONC (- 52.8%), but remained below the baseline at POST (- 48.6%), 1H (- 34.1%), and D1-D4 (- 34.1 to - 18.2%) after ECC1, and at POST (- 45.2%), 1H (- 24.4%) and D1 (- 13.4%) after ECC2 (p < 0.05). Voluntary activation decreased immediately after ECC1 (- 21.6%) and ECC2 (- 21.1%), but not after CONC. Electrically evoked torques decreased similarly at POST and 1H for the three conditions, but remained below the baseline at D1 only post-ECC1. CONCLUSION: These results showed that both central and peripheral factors contributed to the MVC decrease after ECC1 and ECC2, but the decrease was mainly due to peripheral factors after CONC.

Mental fatigue alters the speed and the accuracy of the ball in table tennis.

This study aimed at evaluating the effects of mental and muscle fatigue on table tennis performance. Mental fatigue (MF) was induced by completion of 90 minutes of the AX-CPT; muscle fatigue was induced by completion of an eccentric exercise performed with the elbow flexors (biceps fatigue, BF) or the knee extensors (quadriceps fatigue, QF). The control condition consisted of watching a movie. Stroke parameters (speed and accuracy of the ball), as well as feelings of fatigue and force production capacity of the elbow flexors (BF, MF and control conditions) and knee extensors (QF condition), were assessed pre and post fatigue protocols. Feelings of fatigue increased post fatigue protocols. Force production capacity decreased only in the BF and QF conditions. BF and MF induced a decrease in accuracy. This decrease in accuracy was associated with an increased ball speed in the BF condition, and a decreased ball speed in the MF condition. QF had a negligible effect on stroke performance. Our results suggest that both mental fatigue, and muscle fatigue, significantly impair table tennis performance and therefore coaches should take into account both the physical and mental state of table tennis players to optimize performance.

Fast measurement of the quadriceps femoris muscle transverse relaxation time at high magnetic field using segmented echo-planar imaging.

PURPOSE: To assess and validate a technique for transverse relaxation time (T2 ) measurements of resting and recovering skeletal muscle following exercise with a high temporal resolution and large volume coverage using segmented spin-echo echo-planar imaging (sSE-EPI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Experiments were performed on a 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner using a multislice sSE-EPI technique applied at different echo times (TEs). T2 measurements were first validated in vitro in calibrated T2 phantoms (range: 25-152 ms) by comparing sSE-EPI, standard spin-echo (SE), and multislice multiecho (MSME) techniques (using a fitting procedure or a 2-TEs calculation). In vivo measurements of resting T2 quadriceps femoris (QF) muscle were performed with both sSE-EPI and MSME sequences. Finally, sSE-EPI was used to quantify T2 changes in recovering muscle after an exercise. RESULTS: T2 values measured in vitro with sSE-EPI were similar to those assessed with SE (P > 0.05). In vitro and in vivo T2 measurements obtained with sSE-EPI were independent of the T2 determination procedure (P > 0.05). In contrast, both in vitro and in vivo T2 values derived from MSME were significantly different when using 2-TEs calculation as compared to the fitting procedure (P < 0.05). sSE-EPI allowed the detection of increased T2 values in the QF muscle immediately after exercise (+14 ± 9%), while lower T2 values were recorded less than 2 min afterwards (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: sSE-EPI sequence is a relevant method to monitor exercise-induced T2 changes of skeletal muscles over large volume coverage and to detect abnormal patterns of muscle activation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017;45:356-368.

Muscle length effect on corticospinal excitability during maximal concentric, isometric and eccentric contractions of the knee extensors.

NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? Does sensory input from peripheral mechanoreceptors determine the specific neural control of eccentric contractions? How corticospinal excitability (i.e. muscle responses to motor cortex stimulation) is affected by muscle length has never been investigated during eccentric contractions. What is the main finding and its importance? Muscle length does not influence corticospinal excitability during concentric and isometric maximal contractions, but does during eccentric maximal contractions. This indicates that neural control in eccentric contractions differs from that in concentric and isometric contractions. Neural control of eccentric contractions differs from that of concentric and isometric contractions, but no previous study has compared responses to motor cortex stimulations at long muscle lengths during such contraction types. In this study, we compared the effect of muscle length on corticospinal excitability between maximal concentric, isometric and eccentric contractions of the knee extensors. Twelve men performed 12 maximal concentric, isometric and eccentric voluntary contractions (36 contractions in total), separated by a 5 min rest between contraction types. The 12 contractions for the same contraction type were performed every 10 s, and transcranial magnetic stimulations (first eight contractions) and electrical femoral nerve stimulations (last four contractions) were superimposed alternately at 75 and 100 deg of knee flexion. Average motor evoked potential amplitude, normalized to the maximal M wave amplitude (MEP/M) and cortical silent period duration were calculated for each angle and compared among the contraction types. The MEP/M was lower (-23 and -28%, respectively) during eccentric than both concentric and isometric contractions at 75 deg, but similar between contraction types at 100 deg (P < 0.05). The cortical silent period duration was shorter (-12 and -10%, respectively) during eccentric than both concentric and isometric contractions at 75 deg, but longer (+11 and +9%, respectively) during eccentric contractions at 100 deg (P < 0.05). These results show that corticospinal excitability during eccentric contractions is angle dependent such that cortical inhibitory processes are greater with no alteration of corticospinal excitability at 100 deg, whereas this control is reversed at 75 deg.

Specific joint angle dependency of voluntary activation during eccentric knee extensions.

INTRODUCTION: This study compared voluntary activation during isometric, concentric, and eccentric maximal knee extensions at different joint angles. METHODS: Fifteen participants performed isometric, concentric, and eccentric protocols (9 contractions each). For each protocol, the central activation ratio (CAR) was randomly measured at 50°, 75°, or 100° of knee joint angle (0° = full knee extension) using superimposed supramaximal paired nerve stimulations during contractions. RESULTS: CAR increased between 50° and 100° during isometric (93.6 ± 3.1 vs. 98.5 ± 1.4%), concentric (92.4 ± 5.4 vs. 99.2 ± 1.2%), and eccentric (93.0 ± 3.5 vs. 96.6 ± 3.8%) contractions. CAR was lower during eccentric than both isometric and concentric contractions at 75° and 100°, but similar between contraction types at 50°. CONCLUSIONS: The ability to activate muscle maximally is impaired during eccentric contractions compared with other contraction types at 75° and 100°, but not at 50°. Muscle Nerve 56: 750-758, 2017.

No Alteration of the Neuromuscular Performance of Plantar-Flexor Muscles After Achilles Tendon Vibration

Context: Prolonged tendon vibration may induce muscle fatigue, as assessed by a decrease in maximal force production. It remains unknown, however, whether the decrease in muscle strength after prolonged Achilles tendon vibration is related to the vibration frequency. Objective: To assess the maximal capacity of plantar-flexor (PF) neuromuscular function before and after prolonged Achilles tendon vibration at low and high frequencies generated using a portable device. Design: Pre- and posttest intervention with control. Setting: University laboratory. Participants: 10 healthy men age 22.6 ± 4.0 y. Intervention: Each subject participated in 3 experimental sessions that were randomly distributed and separated by 1 wk. During each experimental session, 1 of the following vibration protocols was applied for 30 min: 40-Hz vibration, 100-Hz vibration, or no vibration (control protocol). Main Outcome Measures: Maximal-voluntary-contraction torque, voluntary activation level, twitch torque, maximal electromyographic activity, and maximal M-wave of PF muscles (measured before and after each vibration or control protocol). Results: Statistical analysis exhibited no significant effect of vibration protocol on the measured variables. Conclusions: The current study demonstrates that 30 min of Achilles tendon vibration at a low or high frequency using a portable stimulator did not affect the neuromuscular performance of the PF muscles. These results emphasize the limits of tendon vibration, whatever the frequency applied, for inducing neuromuscular fatigue.

Effect of vastus lateralis fatigue on load sharing between quadriceps femoris muscles during isometric knee extensions.

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of selective fatigue (i.e., one muscle of the quadriceps) on load sharing strategies during submaximal knee extensions. Shear wave elastography was used to measure muscle shear elastic modulus, as this is considered to be an index of individual muscle force. Sixteen participants attended two experimental sessions that each involved six 10-s knee extensions at 20% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) followed by a sustained submaximal isometric knee extension at 20% of MVC, until task failure (Tlim). Between the 10-s contractions and Tlim, participants were required to rest (5 min) for the control session or underwent 5 min of electromyostimulation (EMS) on vastus lateralis (EMS session). Compared with the control session, vastus lateralis shear elastic modulus values were significantly lower after EMS considering both the start of Tlim (54.6 ± 11.8 vs. 68.4 ± 19.2 kPa; P = 0.011) and the entire Tlim contraction (59.0 ± 14.0 vs. 74.4 ± 20.3 kPa; P = 0.019). However, no significant differences were observed for the other recorded muscles (vastus medialis and rectus femoris; both P = 1), i.e., different patterns of changes were found between participants. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that prefatiguing a single agonist muscle does not lead to a consistent redistribution of load sharing among the quadriceps muscles between individuals. These results suggest that the central nervous system does not use a common principle among individuals to control load sharing when neuromuscular fatigue occurs.

Reliability of H-reflex in vastus lateralis and vastus medialis muscles during passive and active isometric conditions.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the modulation and reliability of the vastus medialis (VM) and vastus lateralis (VL) H-reflexes in both passive and active conditions. METHODS: Recruitment curves of VM and VL H-reflexes and M-waves at rest and during muscle contraction (30% of maximal voluntary contraction) were performed for 12 healthy males and were then repeated after 1 h, 1 day and 1 week. The maximal H-reflexes of each muscle were normalized to their respective maximal M-waves (H/M ratio) and absolute (CV) and relative (ICC) reliability were calculated. RESULTS: The H-reflex was potentiated in active compared to passive condition and a higher H-reflex occurrence (12 vs. 10 subjects) and amplitude (≈+150%) was found for the VM compared to the VL in active condition. The intra- (ICChour = 0.97) and inter-day (ICCday = 0.92; ICCweek = 0.92) reliability was poor for the passive VM H/M ratio due to high within-subject variations (CVhour = 52.2%; CVday = 69.8%; CVweek = 60.9%) whereas for the active condition the reliability, especially intra-day, was good (ICChour = 0.93 and CVhour = 12%; ICCday = 0.86 and CVday = 14.5%; ICCweek = 0.79 and CVweek = 19.7%). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed differential modulation of the H-reflex between vasti muscles of the quadriceps and a higher occurrence and reliability for the active VM H-reflex. One can therefore conclude that it seems more appropriate to evoke quadriceps VM H-reflex (rather than VL) during an isometric muscle contraction.