scholarly journals Length-dependent changes in voluntary activation, maximum voluntary torque and twitch responses after eccentric damage in humans

2006 ◽  
Vol 571 (1) ◽  
pp. 243-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Prasartwuth ◽  
T. J. Allen ◽  
J. E. Butler ◽  
S. C. Gandevia ◽  
J. L. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Voluntary Activation ◽  
Maximum Voluntary Torque

Effects of Voluntary Activation on Neuromuscular Endurance Analyzed by Surface Electromyography

2002 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
pp. 613-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiroshi Yamada ◽  
Kimihiro Kaneko ◽  
Tadashi Masuda
Keyword(s):  
Surface Electromyography ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Voluntary Activation ◽  
Initial Value ◽  
Mean Power ◽  
Mean Power Frequency ◽  
Endurance Time ◽  
Voluntary Muscle ◽  
Power Frequency ◽  
Maximum Voluntary Torque

The purpose was to examine the relation between voluntary muscle activation and neuromuscular endurance of individual subjects based on the pattern of surface electromyography (EMG). The voluntary muscle activation was estimated from the relation between voluntary force and tetanic force superimposed on the voluntary force (twitch interpolation technique). 11 male subjects (10 regular exercisers and 4 sedentary; 21–29 years old) were divided into a High Voluntary Activation group and a Low Voluntary Activation group. A significant positive correlation of .72 (p<.01) was found between maximum voluntary torque and voluntary activation. A fatigue test was conducted during isometric contractions of 60% and 20% maximum voluntary torque. The endurance time was significantly longer for the Low Voluntary Activation group than the High Voluntary Activation group. The mean power frequency of voluntary EMG obtained from the vastus lateralis muscle decreased consistently whereas the average rectified value increased. The final change of mean power frequency relative to the initial value was significantly greater in the 60% Fatigue task than in the 20% Fatigue task. For the 60% Fatigue task, the final change of mean power frequency and average rectified value relative to the initial value was significantly greater in the Low Voluntary Activation group than in the High Voluntary Activation group. These results suggest that the individual differences in voluntary activation determine the neuromuscular performance usually evaluated as maximum voluntary torque and endurance time and that the voluntary activation may depend on the daily exercise.

scholarly journals Supraspinal fatigue impedes recovery from a low-intensity sustained contraction in old adults

2012 ◽  
Vol 112 (5) ◽  
pp. 849-858 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tejin Yoon ◽  
Bonnie Schlinder-Delap ◽  
Manda L. Keller ◽  
Sandra K. Hunter
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Pressor Response ◽  
Motor Evoked Potential ◽  
Silent Period ◽  
Voluntary Activation ◽  
Age Difference ◽  
Task Failure ◽  
Old Adults ◽  
Sustained Contraction ◽  
Low Intensity

This study determined the contribution of supraspinal fatigue and contractile properties to the age difference in neuromuscular fatigue during and recovery from a low-intensity sustained contraction. Cortical stimulation was used to evoke measures of voluntary activation and muscle relaxation during and after a contraction sustained at 20% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) until task failure with elbow flexor muscles in 14 young adults (20.9 ± 3.6 yr, 7 men) and 14 old adults (71.6 ± 5.4 yr, 7 men). Old adults exhibited a longer time to task failure than the young adults (23.8 ± 9.0 vs. 11.5 ± 3.9 min, respectively, P < 0.001). The time to failure was associated with initial peak rates of relaxation of muscle fibers and pressor response ( P < 0.05). Increments in torque (superimposed twitch; SIT) generated by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) during brief MVCs, increased during the fatiguing contraction ( P < 0.001) and then decreased during recovery ( P = 0.02). The increase in the SIT was greater for the old adults than the young adults during the fatiguing contraction and recovery ( P < 0.05). Recovery of MVC torque was less for old than young adults at 10 min post-fatiguing contraction (75.1 ± 8.7 vs. 83.6 ± 7.8% of control MVC, respectively, P = 0.01) and was associated with the recovery of the SIT ( r = −0.59, r2 = 0.35, P < 0.001). Motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude and the silent period elicited during the fatiguing contraction increased less for old adults than young adults ( P < 0.05). The greater fatigue resistance with age during a low-intensity sustained contraction was attributable to mechanisms located within the muscle. Recovery of maximal strength after the low-intensity fatiguing contraction however, was impeded more for old adults than young because of greater supraspinal fatigue. Recovery of strength could be an important variable to consider in exercise prescription of old populations.

scholarly journals Quadriceps activation during maximal isometric and isokinetic contractions: The minimal real difference and its implications

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Luigi Catino ◽  
Chiara Malloggi ◽  
Stefano Scarano ◽  
Valeria Cerina ◽  
Viviana Rota ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Voluntary Activation ◽  
Real Difference ◽  
Concentric Contractions ◽  
Rehabilitation Programs ◽  
Logit Transformation ◽  
Isokinetic Contractions ◽  
Electrical Stimuli ◽  
Voluntary Contractions

BACKGROUND: A method of measurement of voluntary activation (VA, percent of full muscle recruitment) during isometric and isokinetic concentric contractions of the quadriceps femoris (QF) at 60∘/s and 120∘/s was previously validated. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to quantify the test-retest minimal real difference (MRD) of VA during isometric (ISOM) and isokinetic concentric contractions of QF (100∘/s, ISOK) in a sample of healthy individuals. METHODS: VA was measured through the interpolated twitch technique. Pairs of electrical stimuli were delivered to the QF at 40∘ of knee flexion during maximal voluntary contractions. Twenty-five healthy participants (20–38 years, 12 women, 13 men) completed two testing sessions with a 14-day interval. VA values were linearized through logit transformation (VAl). The MRD was estimated from intraclass correlation coefficients (model 2.1). RESULTS: The VA (median, range) was 84.20% (38.2–99.9%) in ISOM and 94.22% (33.8-100%) in ISOK. MRD was 0.78 and 1.12 logit for ISOM and ISOK, respectively. As an example, in terms of percent VA these values correspond to a change from 76% to 95% and from 79% to 98% in ISOM and in ISOK, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The provided MRD values allow to detect significant individual changes in VA, as expected after training and rehabilitation programs.

scholarly journals Locomotor exercise induces long-lasting impairments in the capacity of the human motor cortex to voluntarily activate knee extensor muscles

2009 ◽  
Vol 106 (2) ◽  
pp. 556-565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simranjit K. Sidhu ◽  
David J. Bentley ◽  
Timothy J. Carroll
Keyword(s):  
Motor Cortex ◽  
Motor Nerve ◽  
Maximum Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Voluntary Activation ◽  
Exercise Session ◽  
Knee Extensors ◽  
Central Component ◽  
Control Session ◽  
Cycling Exercise ◽  
Human Motor Cortex

Muscle fatigue is a reduction in the capacity to exert force and may involve a “central” component originating in the brain and/or spinal cord. Here we examined whether supraspinal factors contribute to impaired central drive after locomotor endurance exercise. On 2 separate days, 10 moderately active individuals completed a locomotor cycling exercise session or a control session. Brief (2 s) and sustained (30 s) isometric knee extension contractions were completed before and after locomotor exercise consisting of eight, 5-min bouts of cycling at 80% of maximum workload. In the control session, subjects completed the isometric contractions in a rested state. Twitch responses to supramaximal motor nerve stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation were obtained to assess peripheral force-generating capacity and voluntary activation. Maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) force during brief contractions decreased by 23 ± 6.3% after cycling exercise and remained 12 ± 2.8% below baseline 45 min later ( F1,9 > 15.5; P < 0.01). Resting twitch amplitudes declined by ∼45% ( F1,9 = 28.3; P < 0.001). Cortical voluntary activation declined from 90.6 ± 1.6% at baseline to 80.6 ± 2.1% after exercise ( F1,9 = 28.0; P < 0.001) and remained significantly reduced relative to control 30–45 min later (80.6 ± 3.4%; F1,9 = 10.7; P < 0.01). Thus locomotor exercise caused a long-lasting impairment in the capacity of the motor cortex to drive the knee extensors. Force was reduced more during sustained MVC after locomotor exercise than in the control session. Peripheral mechanisms contributed relatively more to this force reduction in the control session, whereas supraspinal fatigue played a greater role in sustained MVC reduction after locomotor exercise.

Unilateral isometric muscle fatigue decreases force production and activation of contralateral knee extensors but not elbow flexors

2014 ◽  
Vol 39 (12) ◽  
pp. 1338-1344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Israel Halperin ◽  
David Copithorne ◽  
David G. Behm
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Fatigue ◽  
Force Production ◽  
Voluntary Activation ◽  
Knee Extensors ◽  
Elbow Flexors ◽  
Post Intervention ◽  
Nonlocal Effects ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Voluntary Contractions ◽  
Isometric Muscle

Nonlocal muscle fatigue occurs when fatiguing 1 muscle alters performance of another rested muscle. The purpose of the study was to investigate if fatiguing 2 separate muscles would affect the same rested muscle, and if fatiguing the same muscle would affect 2 separate muscles. Twenty-one trained males participated in 2 studies (n = 11; n = 10). Subjects performed 2 pre-test maximum voluntary contractions (MVCs) with the nondominant knee extensors. Thereafter they performed two 100-s MVCs with their dominant knee extensors, elbow flexors, or rested. Between and after the sets, a single MVC with the nondominant rested knee extensors was performed. Subsequently, 12 nondominant knee extensors repeated MVCs were completed. Force, quadriceps voluntary activation (VA), and electromyography (EMG) were measured. The same protocol was employed in study 2 except the nondominant elbow-flexors were tested. Study 1: Compared with control conditions, a significant decrease in nondominant knee extensors force, EMG, and VA was found under both fatiguing conditions (P ≤ 0.05; effect size (ES) = 0.91–1.15; 2%–8%). Additionally, decrements in all variables were found from the first post-intervention MVC to the last (P ≤ 0.05; ES = 0.82–2.40; 9%–20%). Study 2: No differences were found between conditions for all variables (P ≥ 0.33; ES ≤ 0.2; ≤3.0%). However, all variables decreased from the first post-intervention MVC to the last (P ≤ 0.05; ES = 0.4–3.0; 7.2%–19.7%). Whereas the rested knee extensors demonstrated nonlocal effects regardless of the muscle being fatigued, the elbow-flexors remained unaffected. This suggests that nonlocal effects are muscle specific, which may hold functional implications for training and performance.

scholarly journals Central excitability does not limit postfatigue voluntary activation of quadriceps femoris

2006 ◽  
Vol 100 (6) ◽  
pp. 1757-1764 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Kalmar ◽  
E. Cafarelli
Keyword(s):  
Evoked Potentials ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Motor Evoked Potentials ◽  
Vastus Lateralis ◽  
Central Fatigue ◽  
Knee Extension ◽  
Voluntary Activation ◽  
Fatigue Protocol ◽  
Central Excitability

After fatigue, motor evoked potentials (MEP) elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation and cervicomedullary evoked potentials elicited by stimulation of the corticospinal tract are depressed. These reductions in corticomotor excitability and corticospinal transmission are accompanied by voluntary activation failure, but this may not reflect a causal relationship. Our purpose was to determine whether a decline in central excitability contributes to central fatigue. We hypothesized that, if central excitability limits voluntary activation, then a caffeine-induced increase in central excitability should offset voluntary activation failure. In this repeated-measures study, eight men each attended two sessions. Baseline measures of knee extension torque, maximal voluntary activation, peripheral transmission, contractile properties, and central excitability were made before administration of caffeine (6 mg/kg) or placebo. The amplitude of vastus lateralis MEPs elicited during minimal muscle activation provided a measure of central excitability. After a 1-h rest, baseline measures were repeated before, during, and after a fatigue protocol that ended when maximal voluntary torque declined by 35% (Tlim). Increased prefatigue MEP amplitude ( P = 0.055) and cortically evoked twitch ( P < 0.05) in the caffeine trial indicate that the drug increased central excitability. In the caffeine trial, increased MEP amplitude was correlated with time to task failure ( r = 0.74, P < 0.05). Caffeine potentiated the MEP early in the fatigue protocol ( P < 0.05) and offset the 40% decline in placebo MEP ( P < 0.05) at Tlim. However, this was not associated with enhanced maximal voluntary activation during fatigue or recovery, demonstrating that voluntary activation is not limited by central excitability.

Voluntary activation of trunk extensors appears normal in young adults who have recovered from low back pain

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 1506-1515 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.Y. Chiou ◽  
A. Jeevathol ◽  
A. Odedra ◽  
P.H. Strutton
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Voluntary Activation ◽  
Low Back

Measurement and reproducibility of strength and voluntary activation of lower-limb muscles

2004 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 834-842 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabrielle Todd ◽  
Robert B. Gorman ◽  
Simon C. Gandevia
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Voluntary Activation ◽  
Lower Limb Muscles ◽  
Limb Muscles

Neuromuscular Fatigue in Individuals With Intellectual Disability: Comparison Between Sedentary Individuals and Athletes

Motor Control ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 264-282
Author(s):  
Rihab Borji ◽  
Firas Zghal ◽  
Nidhal Zarrouk ◽  
Sonia Sahli ◽  
Haithem Rebai
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Recovery Period ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Neuromuscular Fatigue ◽  
Voluntary Activation ◽  
Peripheral Fatigue ◽  
Typical Development ◽  
Activation Level ◽  
Voluntary Activation Level ◽  
Voluntary Contractions

The authors explored neuromuscular fatigue in athletes with intellectual disability (AID) compared with sedentary individuals with intellectual disability (SID) and individuals with typical development. Force, voluntary activation level, potentiated resting twitch, and electromyography signals were assessed during isometric maximal voluntary contractions performed before and immediately after an isometric submaximal exhaustive contraction (15% isometric maximal voluntary contractions) and during recovery period. AID presented shorter time to task failure than SID (p < .05). The three groups presented similar isometric maximal voluntary contraction decline and recovery kinetic. Both groups with intellectual disability presented higher voluntary activation level and root mean square normalized to peak-to-peak M-wave amplitude declines (p < .05) compared with individuals with typical development. These declines were more pronounced in SID (p < .05) than in AID. The AID recovered their initial voluntary activation level later than controls, whereas SID did not. SID presented lower potentiated resting twitch decline compared with AID and controls with faster recovery (p < .05). AID presented attenuated central fatigue and accentuated peripheral fatigue compared with their sedentary counterparts, suggesting a neuromuscular profile close to that of individuals with typical development.

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