Non-uniform mechanical activity of quadriceps muscle during fatigue by repeated maximal voluntary contraction in humans

Author(s):  
Motoki Kouzaki ◽  
Minoru Shinohara ◽  
Tetsuo Fukunaga
2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (7) ◽  
pp. 818-827 ◽  
Author(s):  
AK Andreasen ◽  
J Jakobsen ◽  
T Petersen ◽  
H Andersen

Background The pathogenesis of fatigue in multiple sclerosis (MS) is poorly understood. Objective To elucidate the role of central motor activation we hypothesized that patients with primary fatigue have impaired central motor function and increased fatigability as compared to secondary fatigued and non-fatigued patients. Methods Sixty patients with relapsing remitting MS and an Expanded Disability Status Scale score ≤ 3.5 were recruited and grouped as fatigued (Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) ≥ 5.0) or non-fatigued (FSS ≤ 4.0). Nineteen patients were primary fatigued, 20 secondary fatigued and 21 non-fatigued. Maximal voluntary contraction, central activation and peripheral activation were determined by percutaneous twitch interpolation of the right quadriceps muscle. Results Maximal voluntary contraction was similar between groups but did relate to scores of fatigue. Peripheral activation was similar in all groups. Central activation was impaired in both groups of fatigued patients compared to non-fatigued patients being 0.96(0.05) in primary fatigued and 0.96(0.04) in secondary fatigued versus 0.99(0.1) in non-fatigued patients. The impairment of central motor activation was related to degree of fatigue in all patients. During fatiguing exercise there was a similar loss of strength, without any time differences between the three groups. Conclusion We conclude that impaired central motor activation is involved in MS-fatigue.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Philipp Zimmer ◽  
Freerk T. Baumann ◽  
Janis Ebel ◽  
Eva Maria Zopf ◽  
Wilhelm Bloch ◽  
...  

Introduction. Resistance training is rarely offered to hemato-oncological patients in the daily clinical routine due to its potential harmful impact on the cardiovascular system and the long periods of thrombocytopenia experienced by these patients. Therefore, it is important to determine a valid assessment to define and control resistance training. In this study, the feasibility of a maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) test was investigated in hemato-oncological patients. This inexpensive assessment may be a practicable alternative to the one repetition maximum test which is currently described as the gold standard.Methods. 29 hemato-oncological patients with platelet counts between 30000/μL and 70000/μL were recruited for this pilot study. Complications like petechial bleedings, muscle convulsion, and pain were assessed using the Brief Pain Inventory before and 48 hours after the MVC test, which was performed unidirectionally for the quadriceps muscle.Results. We did not detect any statistically significant test-related exacerbations or pain development.Discussion. MVC testing seems to be a feasible method to control a resistance training program in hemato-oncological patients. Further studies need to extend their methods and, for example, compare the MVC test with the one repetition maximum test.


2017 ◽  
Vol 118 (6) ◽  
pp. 3242-3251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandon Wayne Collins ◽  
Edward W. J. Cadigan ◽  
Lucas Stefanelli ◽  
Duane C. Button

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of shoulder position on corticospinal excitability (CSE) of the biceps brachii during rest and a 10% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). Participants ( n = 9) completed two experimental sessions with four conditions: 1) rest, 0° shoulder flexion; 2) 10% MVC, 0° shoulder flexion; 3) rest, 90° shoulder flexion; and 4) 10% MVC, 90° shoulder flexion. Transcranial magnetic, transmastoid electrical, and Erb’s point stimulation were used to induce motor-evoked potentials (MEPs), cervicomedullary MEPs (CMEPs), and maximal muscle compound potentials (Mmax), respectively, in the biceps brachii in each condition. At rest, MEP, CMEP, and Mmax amplitudes increased ( P < 0.01) by 509.7 ± 118.3%, 113.3 ± 28.3%, and 155.1 ± 47.9%, respectively, at 90° compared with 0°. At 10% MVC, MEP amplitudes did not differ ( P = 0.08), but CMEP and Mmax amplitudes increased ( P < 0.05) by 32.3 ± 10.5% and 127.9 ± 26.1%, respectively, at 90° compared with 0°. MEP/Mmax increased ( P < 0.01) by 224.0 ± 99.1% at rest and decreased ( P < 0.05) by 51.3 ± 6.7% at 10% MVC at 90° compared with 0°. CMEP/Mmax was not different ( P = 0.22) at rest but decreased ( P < 0.01) at 10% MVC by 33.6 ± 6.1% at 90° compared with 0°. EMG increased ( P < 0.001) by 8.3 ± 2.0% at rest and decreased ( P < 0.001) by 21.4 ± 4.4% at 10% MVC at 90° compared with 0°. In conclusion, CSE of the biceps brachii was dependent on shoulder position, and the pattern of change was altered within the state in which it was measured. The position-dependent changes in Mmax amplitude, EMG, and CSE itself all contribute to the overall change in CSE of the biceps brachii. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We demonstrate that when the shoulder is placed into two common positions for determining elbow flexor force and activation, corticospinal excitability (CSE) of the biceps brachii is both shoulder position and state dependent. At rest, when the shoulder is flexed from 0° to 90°, supraspinal factors predominantly alter CSE, whereas during a slight contraction, spinal factors predominantly alter CSE. Finally, the normalization techniques frequently used by researchers to investigate CSE may under- and overestimate CSE when shoulder position is changed.


2003 ◽  
Vol 95 (2) ◽  
pp. 829-837 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taija Finni ◽  
John A. Hodgson ◽  
Alex M. Lai ◽  
V. Reggie Edgerton ◽  
Shantanu Sinha

The distribution of strain along the soleus aponeurosis tendon was examined during voluntary contractions in vivo. Eight subjects performed cyclic isometric contractions (20 and 40% of maximal voluntary contraction). Displacement and strain in the apparent Achilles tendon and in the aponeurosis were calculated from cine phase-contrast magnetic resonance images acquired with a field of view of 32 cm. The apparent Achilles tendon lengthened 2.8 and 4.7% in 20 and 40% maximal voluntary contraction, respectively. The midregion of the aponeurosis, below the gastrocnemius insertion, lengthened 1.2 and 2.2%, but the distal aponeurosis shortened 2.1 and 2.5%, respectively. There was considerable variation in the three-dimensional anatomy of the aponeurosis and muscle-tendon junction. We suggest that the nonuniformity in aponeurosis strain within an individual was due to the presence of active and passive motor units along the length of the muscle, causing variable force along the measurement site. Force transmission along intrasoleus connective tissue may also be a significant source of nonuniform strain in the aponeurosis.


2018 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 174-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonardo Henrique Perinotto Abdalla ◽  
Benedito Sérgio Denadai ◽  
Natália Menezes Bassan ◽  
Camila Coelho Greco

The objective of this study was to test the hypotheses that end-test torque (ET) (expressed as % maximal voluntary contraction; MVC) is higher for plantar flexors (PF) than knee extensors (KE) muscles, whereas impulse above ET (IET) is higher for KE than PF. Thus, we expected that exercise tolerance would be longer for KE than PF only during the exercise performed above ET. After the determination of MVC, 40 men performed two 5-min all-out tests to determine ET and IET. Eleven participants performed a further 4 intermittent isometric tests, to exhaustion, at ET + 5% and ET – 5%, and 1 test for KE at the exercise intensity (%MVC) corresponding to ET + 5% of PF. The IET (7243.2 ± 1942.9 vs. 3357.4 ± 1132.3 N·m·s) and ET (84.4 ± 24.8 vs. 73.9 ± 19.5 N·m) were significantly lower in PF compared with KE. The exercise tolerance was significantly longer for PF (300.7 ± 156.7 s) than KE (156.7 ± 104.3 s) at similar %MVC (∼60%), and significantly shorter for PF (300.7 ± 156.7 s) than KE (697.0 ± 243.7 s) at ET + 5% condition. However, no significant difference was observed for ET – 5% condition (KE = 1030.2 ± 495.4 s vs. PF = 1028.3 ± 514.4 s). Thus, the limit of tolerance during submaximal isometric contractions is influenced by absolute MVC only during exercise performed above ET, which seems to be explained by differences on both ET (expressed as %MVC) and IET values.


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