Sternomastoid muscle twitch maximum relaxation rate: prolonged slowing with fatigue and post-tetanic acceleration

1991 ◽  
Vol 81 (5) ◽  
pp. 669-676 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. H. F. Mak ◽  
F. Chapman ◽  
C. James ◽  
S. G. Spiro
Keyword(s):  
Relaxation Rate ◽  
Maximal Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Tetanic Stimulation ◽  
Sternomastoid Muscle ◽  
Twitch Contraction ◽  
Fresh State ◽  
Fatiguing Exercise ◽  
The Mean

1. The maximum rate of relaxation of stimulated twitches (twitch maximum relaxation rate) of the sternomastoid muscle was compared with its frequency-force curve (expressed as the ratio of force produced at a stimulation frequency of 20 Hz to that produced at 50 Hz, the 20:50 ratio) before and after fatiguing exercise of the sternomastoid muscle in 10 normal subjects. The mean (±) fresh state twitch maximum relaxation rate was 9.51 (± 0.64)% force loss/10 ms and the mean (± sem) 20:50 ratio was 73.4 (± 2.6)%. 2. The mean twitch maximum relaxation rate fell to 71.5 (± 2.2)% of the pre-fatigue value at 2 min after exercise, recovering to 73.1 (± 1.6)% by 5 min, 78.4 (± 2.34)% by 10 min and 80.6 (± 2.70)% by 60 min. The 20:50 ratio fell to 72.3 (± 3.56)% of pre-fatigue levels at 10 min after exercise and recovered to 78.8 (± 3.16)% by 60 min. There was no significant difference in the percentage falls between the two techniques. 3. Further studies were performed to determine the response of the twitch maximum relaxation rate to a prior brief tetanic stimulus or a brief maximal voluntary contraction of the muscle. Both tetanic stimulation and maximal voluntary contraction accelerated the twitch maximum relaxation rate to over 140% of the fresh state value. Both manoeuvres temporarily returned the slowed twitch maximum relaxation rate after fatiguing exercise back to the fresh state value. 4. The effect of fatiguing exercise on the time course of recovery of quadriceps twitch maximum relaxation rate was also studied in two subjects. The twitch maximum relaxation rate had not recovered to fresh state levels by 5 min after exercise in both subjects. At 10 min, one subject had recovered to the fresh state value, but the other had recovered to only 85% of the fresh state value. Both recovered to fresh state values by 1 h. 5. We conclude that the twitch maximum relaxation rate of the sternomastoid as measured from a twitch contraction has a prolonged time course of recovery after fatiguing exercise, and may follow the same time course of recovery as low-frequency fatigue. Tetanic stimulation and voluntary contractions may temporarily accelerate the relaxation rate, and therefore a distinction should be made between relaxation rates measured after a twitch contraction (twitch maximum relaxation rate) and those after tetanic stimulation or a maximum voluntary contraction (maximum relaxation rate).

The Influence of Intermittent Fatigue Exercise on Early and Late Phases of Relaxation From Maximal Voluntary Contraction

1997 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 573-584 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Jaskólska ◽  
Artur Jaskólski
Keyword(s):  
Relaxation Time ◽  
Relaxation Rate ◽  
Maximal Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Early Phase ◽  
Intermittent Exercise ◽  
Young Male ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Hand Grip ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Late Relaxation Time

Twenty-two young male subjects were tested to estimate the behavior of the early and late phases of relaxation from a 3-s maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) under the influence of fatigue. Less demanding and more demanding protocols of intermittent hand grip exercise were used to fatigue muscle. Before and after fatigue, the early and late relaxation time, maximal relaxation rate, and half-relaxation time were measured. The results showed that during voluntary movement (a) the early phase of relaxation was independent of the mode of intermittent exercise and did not change significantly after fatigue; (b) the late relaxation time and absolute maximal relaxation rate were slower after both protocols, with the changes more pronounced following the more demanding protocol; and (c) the half-relaxation time and relative maximal relaxation rate were changed only in the more demanding protocol. It is concluded that unlike the relaxation following electrical stimulation of isolated muscle, the early phase of relaxation from voluntary contraction appears to be the most resistant to the type of intermittent fatiguing exercise used in the present study, whereas the late relaxation time was the most sensitive to this type of fatigue. Key words: hand grip exercise, late relaxation time, early relaxation time, half-relaxation time

Reflex responses of human soleus muscle to small perturbations

1976 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 1105-1116 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. B. Stein ◽  
P. Bawa
Keyword(s):  
Soleus Muscle ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
M Wave ◽  
Force Fluctuations ◽  
Twitch Contraction ◽  
Small Branch ◽  
Normal Human ◽  
Damped Oscillation

1. A small branch of the nerve to soleus muscle in normal human subjects was stimulated intramuscularly with a needle electrode while the subjects were maintaining a steady voluntary contraction. The EMG and force fluctuations produced by these stimuli were recorded and averaged. 2. In addition to the M-wave produced directly by stimulating motoneurons and the resultant twitch contraction, one or more EMG waves were seen with a latency greater than 100 ms. These later waves produced further contractions, and when there were several later waves, the EMG and force fluctuations appeared as a damped oscillation with a frequency between 5.5 and 8 Hz. 3. By varying the angle of the ankle and hence the time course of the twitch contraction, the timing of the latter waves was shown to be closely related to the contraction time. Thus, the later waves appeared to be produced reflexly by the tension fluctuations, rather than directly by the stimulus. 4. The frequency response function between the tension fluctuations and the reflux EMG responses was computed. The gain agreed with that of primary muscle spindle afferents, but the phase data showed extra lags consistent with a time delay which was too long to be spinal in origin. This reflex probably involves supraspinal centers.

Contractile speed and EMG changes during fatigue of sustained maximal voluntary contractions

1983 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 313-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Bigland-Ritchie ◽  
R. Johansson ◽  
O. C. Lippold ◽  
J. J. Woods
Keyword(s):  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Maximal Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Neuromuscular Block ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Percentage Change ◽  
Electromyographic Activity ◽  
Excitation Rate ◽  
Voluntary Contractions

Measurements were made from the human adductor pollicis muscle of force, contractile speed, and electromyographic activity (EMG) before, during, and after maximal isometric voluntary contractions sustained for 60 s. The use of brief test periods of maximal nerve stimulation with single shocks or trains of shocks enabled various muscle mechanical properties to be studied throughout each contraction. Electrical activity was measured after rectification and smoothing of the surface potentials and also by counting the total number of potentials per unit time from a population of motor units using fine wire intramuscular electrodes. During a 60-s maximal voluntary contraction, the force fell by 30-50%. Throughout the experiment the voluntary force matched that produced by supramaximal tetanic nerve stimulation. This indicated that, with sufficient practice, full muscle activation could be maintained by voluntary effort. However, the amplitude of the smoothed, rectifed EMG and the rate of spike counts declined. Since no evidence for neuromuscular block was found, the decline in EMG and spike counts was attributed to a progressive reduction of the neural drive from the central nervous system, despite maintained maximum effort. After the prolonged voluntary contractions twitch duration was prolonged, mainly as a result of slowing in relaxation rate. Twitch summation in unfused tetani increased. Both the maximum rate of relaxation and the time course of force decay declined by 50-70%. Similar changes were seen in both voluntary contractions and in test periods of stimulation. The percentage change in muscle contractile speed measured by these parameters approximately equaled the percentage change in the surface EMG measured simultaneously. It is concluded that 1) during a 60-s sustained maximal voluntary contraction there is a progressive slowing of contraction speed such that the excitation rate required to give maximal force generation is reduced, 2) the simultaneous decline in EMG may be due to a continuous reduction in motoneuron discharge rate, and 3) the EMG decline may not necessarily contribute to force loss.

Force Perception before and after Maximal Voluntary Contraction

1993 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 399-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith L. Gooch ◽  
Jeffrey Randle
Keyword(s):  
Maximal Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Elbow Flexion ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Force Perception ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Flexion Force

Capacity to match a low level of elbow flexion force maintained in the control arm was measured in the experimental arm in 16 subjects before and after maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). Prior to a 1-min. MVC, the mean force exerted by the experimental arm was 3.4 ± 1.0 kg when attempting to match the tension of a 2.3-kg weight in the control arm. After the MVC, the mean force exerted in the experimental arm was 4.4 ± 2.6 kg. The change in perception of force after a prolonged MVC as demonstrated in this study may be due to postcontraction potentiation of contraction, which has been demonstrated by others after a brief MVC.

scholarly journals Methodological issues with the assessment of voluntary activation using transcranial magnetic stimulation in the knee extensors

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanne Dekerle ◽  
Paul Ansdell ◽  
lisa Schäfer ◽  
Aaron Greenhouse-Tucknott ◽  
James Graeme Wrightson
Keyword(s):  
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Maximal Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Magnetic Stimulation ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Face Validity ◽  
Voluntary Activation ◽  
Knee Extensors ◽  
Post Exercise ◽  
Smallest Detectable Change ◽  
Fatiguing Exercise

Purpose: The assessment of voluntary activation of the knee extensors using transcranial magnetic stimulation (VATMS) is routinely performed to assess the supraspinal function. Yet methodological scrutiny of the technique is scarce. The aim of the present study was to examine face validity and reliability of VATMS and its two main determinants (superimposed twitch during a maximal voluntary contraction [SIT100%] and estimated resting twitch [ERT]). Methods: SIT100%, ERT, and VATMS were measured on 10 healthy males (age: 24 ± 5 years) before and following intermittent isometric fatiguing exercise on two separate occasions. Results: The findings indicated issues regarding the accuracy of ERT and suggested a three-point relationship should not be used to determine ERT. Reliabilities for VATMS, SIT100% and ERT were acceptable pre- but much weaker post-exercise (especially for SIT100%). Despite statistically significant changes in main neuromuscular variables following the intermittent isometric fatiguing exercise (P<0.05), when post-exercise reliability was considered, the exercise effect on VATMS was smaller than the smallest detectable change in 18 of the 20 individual tests performed, and for the whole sample for one of two visits. Finally, Maximal voluntary contraction was reduced significantly following the neuromuscular assessment (NMA) pre-exercise but recovered during the NMA post-exercise. Conclusion: This is the first study to demonstrate a lack of sensitivity of key neuromuscular measurements to exercise and to evidence both presence of neuromuscular fatigue following the NMA in itself, and recovery of the neuromuscular function during the NMA post-exercise. These results challenge the face validity of this routinely used protocol.

EARLY VARIATIONS OF PLASMA CORTISOL AFTER PULSE INTRAVENOUS INJECTION OF DIBUTYRYL CYCLIC ADENOSINE 3′,5′-MONOPHOSPHATE IN NORMAL SUBJECTS

1973 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 753-761 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Angeli ◽  
Giuseppe Boccuzzi ◽  
Roberto Frajria ◽  
Daniela Bisbocci ◽  
Franco Ceresa
Keyword(s):  
Intravenous Injection ◽  
Plasma Cortisol ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Healthy Adult ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Adult Women ◽  
Healthy Women ◽  
Adrenal Steroidogenesis ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Zero Time

ABSTRACT 10 mg/kg of dibutyryl cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (Db-cAMP) was iv pulse injected into twelve healthy adult women. The plasma cortisol levels were determined as 11-OHCS at zero time and then at 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 15, 30, 60 and 180 min after the injection. The data were compared with those obtained at the corresponding times in two groups of eleven and seventeen healthy women after the injection of 250 ng and 250 μg of synthetic β-1-24 corticotrophin performed in the same manner as the injection of the nucleotide. The mean increments in plasma cortisol were significantly lower after Db-cAMP than after ACTH. Differences were noted by analyzing the time course of the responses. In the case of stimulation with Db-cAMP the 11-OHCS levels rose progressively to a maximum at 15–30 min. By contrast, a peak of plasma cortisol was evident in most cases within a few min after the injection of ACTH; after a fall, a later rise was then observed starting from 15 min. The differences in the plasma 11-OHCS responses after the two stimuli may also be of interest clinically for the investigation of some aspects of adrenal steroidogenesis.

Failure of prostaglandins to modulate the time course of blood flow during dynamic forearm exercise in humans

1996 ◽  
Vol 81 (4) ◽  
pp. 1516-1521 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. K. Shoemaker ◽  
H. L. Naylor ◽  
Z. I. Pozeg ◽  
R. L. Hughson
Keyword(s):  
Blood Flow ◽  
Brachial Artery ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Forearm Blood Flow ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Rate Of Increase ◽  
Forearm Exercise ◽  
Blind Manner ◽  
Exercise In Humans

Shoemaker, J. K., H. L. Naylor, Z. I. Pozeg, and R. L. Hughson. Failure of prostaglandins to modulate the time course of blood flow during dynamic forearm exercise in humans. J. Appl. Physiol. 81(4): 1516–1521, 1996.—The time course and magnitude of increases in brachial artery mean blood velocity (MBV; pulsed Doppler), diameter ( D; echo Doppler), mean perfusion pressure (MPP; Finapres), shear rate (γ˙ = 8 ⋅ MBV/ D), and forearm blood flow (FBF = MBV ⋅ π r 2) were assessed to investigate the effect that prostaglandins (PGs) have on the hyperemic response on going from rest to rhythmic exercise in humans. While supine, eight healthy men performed 5 min of dynamic handgrip exercise by alternately raising and lowering a 4.4-kg weight (∼10% maximal voluntary contraction) with a work-to-rest cycle of 1:1 (s/s). When the exercise was performed with the arm positioned below the heart, the rate of increase in MBV and γ˙ was faster compared with the same exercise performed above the heart. Ibuprofen (Ibu; 1,200 mg/day, to reduce PG-induced vasodilation) and placebo were administered orally for 2 days before two separate testing sessions in a double-blind manner. Resting heart rate was reduced in Ibu (52 ± 3 beats/min) compared with placebo (57 ± 3 beats/min) ( P < 0.05) without change to MPP. With placebo, D increased in both arm positions from ∼4.3 mm at rest to ∼4.5 mm at 5 min of exercise ( P < 0.05). This response was not altered with Ibu ( P > 0.05). Ibu did not alter the time course of MBV or forearm blood flow ( P > 0.05) in either arm position. The γ˙ was significantly greater in Ibu vs. placebo at 30 and 40 s of above the heart exercise and for all time points after 25 s of below the heart exercise ( P < 0.05). Because PG inhibition altered the time course ofγ˙ at the brachial artery, but not FBF, it was concluded that PGs are not essential in regulating the blood flow responses to dynamic exercise in humans.

Quantitative studies of the reactions to horizontal angular accelerations in axolotls. I. The head-turning reflexes of normal animals

1977 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
K. Brandle
Keyword(s):  
Stimulus Intensity ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Maximum Velocity ◽  
Afferent Input ◽  
Head Turning ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Quantitative Studies ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Negative Exponential ◽  
Total Angle

1. Artifically metamorphosed axolotls were exposed to both brief (impulse) and long-lasting horizontal angular accelerations on a turn-table. The animals responded with a head-turning reaction. 2. The general course of the reaction to impulse acceleration was independent of stimulus intensity. The velocity of the head movement first increased to a maximum exponentially and then decreased in a negative exponential manner. Stimulus intensity had a linear relationship to the mean maximum velocity and mean total angle covered by head-turning. The average velocity-time curves at various stimulus intensities differed only by a velocity factor. 3. During long-lasting constant accelerations the velocity of the head-turning increased to a maximum velocity in a sigmoid time-course and then decreased, first to a constant velocity, and then further. Mean values of the maximum velocity were correlated linearly with the stimulus intensity. 4. It was concluded that the head-turning reflexes in axolotls do not agree with the accepted movements of the vertebrate cupula and therefore are not a simple ‘copy’ of the afferent input. It is also suggested that the reaction threshold differes from that for the labyrinthine input.

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