Voluntary activation and twitch potentiation of the elbow flexors across supinated, neutral, and pronated forearm orientations

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.

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Fatigue-related firing of distal muscle nociceptors reduces voluntary activation of proximal muscles of the same limb

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/japplphysiol.01166.2013 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 116 (4) ◽

pp. 385-394 ◽

Cited By ~ 38

Author(s):

David S. Kennedy ◽

Chris J. McNeil ◽

Simon C. Gandevia ◽

Janet L. Taylor

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Elbow Flexion ◽

Muscle Afferents ◽

Voluntary Contraction ◽

Voluntary Activation ◽

Elbow Flexors ◽

Group Iii ◽

Distal Muscle ◽

Fatiguing Exercise ◽

Stimulation Of

With fatiguing exercise, firing of group III/IV muscle afferents reduces voluntary activation and force of the exercised muscles. These afferents can also act across agonist/antagonist pairs, reducing voluntary activation and force in nonfatigued muscles. We hypothesized that maintained firing of group III/IV muscle afferents after a fatiguing adductor pollicis (AP) contraction would decrease voluntary activation and force of AP and ipsilateral elbow flexors. In two experiments ( n = 10) we examined voluntary activation of AP and elbow flexors by measuring changes in superimposed twitches evoked by ulnar nerve stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation of the motor cortex, respectively. Inflation of a sphygmomanometer cuff after a 2-min AP maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) blocked circulation of the hand for 2 min and maintained firing of group III/IV muscle afferents. After a 2-min AP MVC, maximal AP voluntary activation was lower with than without ischemia (56.2 ± 17.7% vs. 76.3 ± 14.6%; mean ± SD; P < 0.05) as was force (40.3 ± 12.8% vs. 57.1 ± 13.8% peak MVC; P < 0.05). Likewise, after a 2-min AP MVC, elbow flexion voluntary activation was lower with than without ischemia (88.3 ± 7.5% vs. 93.6 ± 3.9%; P < 0.05) as was torque (80.2 ± 4.6% vs. 86.6 ± 1.0% peak MVC; P < 0.05). Pain during ischemia was reported as Moderate to Very Strong. Postfatigue firing of group III/IV muscle afferents from the hand decreased voluntary drive and force of AP. Moreover, this effect decreased voluntary drive and torque of proximal unfatigued muscles, the elbow flexors. Fatigue-sensitive group III/IV muscle nociceptors act to limit voluntary drive not only to fatigued muscles but also to unfatigued muscles within the same limb.

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Maximal Voluntary Activation of the Elbow Flexors Is under Predicted by Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Compared to Motor Point Stimulation Prior to and Following Muscle Fatigue

Frontiers in Physiology ◽

10.3389/fphys.2017.00707 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Edward W. J. Cadigan ◽

Brandon W. Collins ◽

Devin T. G. Philpott ◽

Garreth Kippenhuck ◽

Mitchell Brenton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Muscle Fatigue ◽

Magnetic Stimulation ◽

Voluntary Activation ◽

Elbow Flexors ◽

Motor Point

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Comparison of neuromuscular adjustments associated with sustained isometric contractions of four different muscle groups

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/japplphysiol.01539.2012 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 114 (10) ◽

pp. 1426-1434 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Daria Neyroud ◽

Jennifer Rüttimann ◽

Anne F. Mannion ◽

Guillaume Y. Millet ◽

Nicola A. Maffiuletti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Muscle Fatigue ◽

Upper Limb ◽

Voluntary Contraction ◽

Voluntary Activation ◽

Knee Extensors ◽

Elbow Flexors ◽

Plantar Flexors ◽

Task Failure ◽

Before And After ◽

Muscle Groups

The extent and characteristics of muscle fatigue of different muscle groups when subjected to a similar fatiguing task may differ. Thirteen healthy young men performed sustained contractions at 50% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) force until task failure, with four different muscle groups, over two sessions. Per session, one upper limb and one lower limb muscle group were tested (knee extensors and thumb adductor, or plantar and elbow flexors). Changes in voluntary activation level and contractile properties were derived from doublet responses evoked during and after MVCs before and after exercise. Time to task failure differed ( P < 0.05) between muscle groups (220 ± 64 s for plantar flexors, 114 ± 27 s for thumb adductor, 77 ± 25 s for knee extensors, and 72 ± 14 s for elbow flexors). MVC force loss immediately after voluntary task failure was similar (−30 ± 11% for plantar flexors, −37 ± 13% for thumb adductor, −34 ± 15% for knee extensors, and −40 ± 12% for elbow flexors, P > 0.05). Voluntary activation was decreased for plantar flexors only (from 95 ± 5% to 82 ± 9%, P < 0.05). Potentiated evoked doublet amplitude was more depressed for upper limb muscles (−59.3 ± 14.7% for elbow flexors and −60.1 ± 24.1% for thumb adductor, P < 0.05) than for knee extensors (−28 ± 15%, P < 0.05); no reduction was found in plantar flexors (−7 ± 12%, P > 0.05). In conclusion, despite different times to task failure when sustaining an isometric contraction at 50% MVC force for as long as possible, diverse muscle groups present similar loss of MVC force after task failure. Thus the extent of muscle fatigue is not affected by time to task failure, whereas this latter determines the etiology of fatigue.

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Increased Voluntary Activation of the Elbow Flexors Following a Single Session of Spinal Manipulation in a Subclinical Neck Pain Population

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci9060136 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 136 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mat Kingett ◽

Kelly Holt ◽

Imran Khan Niazi ◽

Rasmus Wiberg Nedergaard ◽

Michael Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Neck Pain ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Spinal Manipulation ◽

Maximum Voluntary Contraction ◽

Elbow Flexion ◽

Voluntary Contraction ◽

Voluntary Activation ◽

Elbow Flexors ◽

Single Session ◽

Post Intervention

To investigate the effects of a single session of spinal manipulation (SM) on voluntary activation of the elbow flexors in participants with subclinical neck pain using an interpolated twitch technique with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), eighteen volunteers with subclinical neck pain participated in this randomized crossover trial. TMS was delivered during elbow flexion contractions at 50%, 75% and 100% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) before and after SM or control intervention. The amplitude of the superimposed twitches evoked during voluntary contractions was recorded and voluntary activation was calculated using a regression analysis. Dependent variables were analyzed with two-way (intervention × time) repeated measures ANOVAs. Significant intervention effects for SM compared to passive movement control were observed for elbow flexion MVC (p = 0.04), the amplitude of superimposed twitch (p = 0.04), and voluntary activation of elbow flexors (p =0.03). Significant within-group post-intervention changes were observed for the superimposed twitch (mean group decrease of 20.9%, p < 0.01) and voluntary activation (mean group increase of 3.0%, p < 0.01) following SM. No other significant within-group changes were observed. Voluntary activation of the elbow flexors increased immediately after one session of spinal manipulation in participants with subclinical neck pain. A decrease in the amplitude of superimposed twitch during elbow flexion MVC following spinal manipulation suggests a facilitation of motor cortical output.

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Arm-cycling sprints induce neuromuscular fatigue of the elbow flexors and alter corticospinal excitability of the biceps brachii

Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism ◽

10.1139/apnm-2015-0438 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 41 (2) ◽

pp. 199-209 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Gregory E.P. Pearcey ◽

David J. Bradbury-Squires ◽

Michael Monks ◽

Devin Philpott ◽

Kevin E. Power ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Evoked Potentials ◽

Biceps Brachii ◽

Motor Evoked Potentials ◽

Neuromuscular Fatigue ◽

Corticospinal Excitability ◽

Voluntary Activation ◽

Elbow Flexors ◽

Mean Power ◽

Arm Cycling ◽

Spinal Excitability

We examined the effects of arm-cycling sprints on maximal voluntary elbow flexion and corticospinal excitability of the biceps brachii. Recreationally trained athletes performed ten 10-s arm-cycling sprints interspersed with 150 s of rest in 2 separate experiments. In experiment A (n = 12), maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) force of the elbow flexors was measured at pre-sprint 1, post-sprint 5, and post-sprint 10. Participants received electrical motor point stimulation during and following the elbow flexor MVCs to estimate voluntary activation (VA). In experiment B (n = 7 participants from experiment A), supraspinal and spinal excitability of the biceps brachii were measured via transcranial magnetic and transmastoid electrical stimulation that produced motor evoked potentials (MEPs) and cervicomedullary motor evoked potentials (CMEPs), respectively, during a 5% isometric MVC at pre-sprint 1, post-sprint 1, post-sprint 5, and post-sprint 10. In experiment A, mean power output, MVC force, potentiated twitch force, and VA decreased 13.1% (p < 0.001), 8.7% (p = 0.036), 27.6% (p = 0.003), and 5.6% (p = 0.037), respectively, from pre-sprint 1 to post-sprint 10. In experiment B, (i) MEPs decreased 42.1% (p = 0.002) from pre-sprint 1 to post-sprint 5 and increased 40.1% (p = 0.038) from post-sprint 5 to post-sprint 10 and (ii) CMEPs increased 28.5% (p = 0.045) from post-sprint 1 to post-sprint 10. Overall, arm-cycling sprints caused neuromuscular fatigue of the elbow flexors, which corresponded with decreased supraspinal and increased spinal excitability of the biceps brachii. The different post-sprint effects on supraspinal and spinal excitability may illustrate an inhibitory effect on supraspinal drive that reduces motor output and, therefore, decreases arm-cycling sprint performance.

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Firing of antagonist small-diameter muscle afferents reduces voluntary activation and torque of elbow flexors

The Journal of Physiology ◽

10.1113/jphysiol.2012.248559 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 591 (14) ◽

pp. 3591-3604 ◽

Cited By ~ 42

Author(s):

David S. Kennedy ◽

Chris J. McNeil ◽

Simon C. Gandevia ◽

Janet L. Taylor

Keyword(s):

Small Diameter ◽

Muscle Afferents ◽

Voluntary Activation ◽

Elbow Flexors

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Prediction of voluntary activation, strength and endurance of elbow flexors in postpolio patients

Muscle & Nerve ◽

10.1002/mus.20094 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 30 (2) ◽

pp. 172-181 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Gabrielle M. Allen ◽

J. Middleton ◽

P. H. Katrak ◽

S. R. Lord ◽

S. C. Gandevia

Keyword(s):

Voluntary Activation ◽

Elbow Flexors

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Twitch potentiation is greater after a fatiguing submaximal isometric contraction performed at short vs. long quadriceps muscle length

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/japplphysiol.00664.2004 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 98 (2) ◽

pp. 429-436 ◽

Cited By ~ 53

Author(s):

Nicolas Place ◽

Nicola A. Maffiuletti ◽

Yves Ballay ◽

Romuald Lepers

Keyword(s):

Isometric Contraction ◽

Muscle Length ◽

Knee Extensor ◽

Central Fatigue ◽

Short Length ◽

Voluntary Activation ◽

Full Extension ◽

Endurance Time ◽

Task Failure ◽

Twitch Potentiation

Endurance time of a submaximal sustained contraction is longer when the muscle is fatigued in a shortened position. The aim of the present study was to compare central and peripheral mechanisms of fatigue after an isometric contraction of the knee extensor muscles performed at 20% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) at two knee angles (35°, short length vs. 75°, long length; 0° = full extension) until exhaustion. Eleven men (24 ± 4 yr) attended two experimental randomized sessions. Endurance time was greater at 35° compared with 75° (974 ± 457 vs. 398 ± 144 s; P < 0.001) despite a similar reduction in knee extensor MVC (−28.4 ± 16.0%, P < 0.001 vs. −27.6 ± 18.8%, P < 0.001, respectively). Voluntary activation level was similarly depressed after the fatiguing contraction performed at the two muscle lengths (−19 ± 16.7% at 35°, P < 0.01 vs. −13.7 ± 14.5% at 75°, P < 0.01). After the fatiguing contraction, peak twitch potentiation was observed only at the short length (+31.8 ± 17.6% at 35°, P < 0.01 vs. +6.4 ± 21.3% at 75°, P > 0.05), whereas M-wave properties were similarly altered for the two angles. These results suggest that 1) central fatigue at task failure for a sustained isometric contraction was not dependent on the muscle length, and 2) the longer endurance time of a sustained isometric contraction performed at a shortened length is related to potentiation. It is suggested that the greater endurance time of a sustained isometric contraction observed at 35° is related to the occurrence of potentiation at this short length, because central fatigue is similar at task failure for both tasks.

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