scholarly journals Nature of the coupling between neural drive and force-generating capacity in the human quadriceps muscle

2015 ◽  
Vol 282 (1819) ◽  
pp. 20151908 ◽  
Author(s):  
François Hug ◽  
Clément Goupille ◽  
Daniel Baum ◽  
Brent J. Raiteri ◽  
Paul W. Hodges ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Force ◽  
Vastus Lateralis ◽  
Quadriceps Muscle ◽  
Myoelectric Activity ◽  
Neural Drive ◽  
Fascicle Length ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Muscle Fascicle ◽  
Generating Capacity ◽  
The Relationship

The force produced by a muscle depends on both the neural drive it receives and several biomechanical factors. When multiple muscles act on a single joint, the nature of the relationship between the neural drive and force-generating capacity of the synergistic muscles is largely unknown. This study aimed to determine the relationship between the ratio of neural drive and the ratio of muscle force-generating capacity between two synergist muscles (vastus lateralis (VL) and vastus medialis (VM)) in humans. Twenty-one participants performed isometric knee extensions at 20 and 50% of maximal voluntary contractions (MVC). Myoelectric activity (surface electromyography (EMG)) provided an index of neural drive. Physiological cross-sectional area (PCSA) was estimated from measurements of muscle volume (magnetic resonance imaging) and muscle fascicle length (three-dimensional ultrasound imaging) to represent the muscles' force-generating capacities. Neither PCSA nor neural drive was balanced between VL and VM. There was a large ( r = 0.68) and moderate ( r = 0.43) correlation between the ratio of VL/VM EMG amplitude and the ratio of VL/VM PCSA at 20 and 50% of MVC, respectively. This study provides evidence that neural drive is biased by muscle force-generating capacity, the greater the force-generating capacity of VL compared with VM, the stronger bias of drive to the VL.

Sprint performance is related to muscle fascicle length in male 100-m sprinters

2000 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 811-816 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenya Kumagai ◽  
Takashi Abe ◽  
William F. Brechue ◽  
Tomoo Ryushi ◽  
Susumu Takano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vastus Lateralis ◽  
Muscle Thickness ◽  
Pennation Angle ◽  
Leg Length ◽  
Fascicle Length ◽  
Gastrocnemius Medialis ◽  
Muscle Fascicle ◽  
Lateralis Muscle ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Gastrocnemius Lateralis

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between muscle fascicle length and sprint running performance in 37 male 100-m sprinters. The sample was divided into two performance groups by the personal-best 100-m time: 10.00–10.90 s (S10; n = 22) and 11.00–11.70 s (S11; n = 15). Muscle thickness and fascicle pennation angle of the vastus lateralis and gastrocnemius medialis and lateralis muscles were measured by B-mode ultrasonography, and fascicle length was estimated. Standing height, body weight, and leg length were similar between groups. Muscle thickness was similar between groups for vastus lateralis and gastrocnemius medialis, but S10 had a significantly greater gastrocnemius lateralis muscle thickness. S10 also had a greater muscle thickness in the upper portion of the thigh, which, given similar limb lengths, demonstrates an altered “muscle shape.” Pennation angle was always less in S10 than in S11. In all muscles, S10 had significantly greater fascicle length than did S11, which significantly correlated with 100-m best performance ( rvalues from −0.40 to −0.57). It is concluded that longer fascicle length is associated with greater sprinting performance.

Intramuscular fibre conduction velocity and muscle fascicle length in human vastus lateralis

2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-138
Author(s):  
Spyridon Methenitis ◽  
Angeliki-Nikoletta Stasinaki ◽  
Nikolaos Zaras ◽  
Konstantinos Spengos ◽  
Nikolaos Karandreas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Fibre ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Conduction Velocity ◽  
Vastus Lateralis ◽  
Body Height ◽  
Vastus Lateralis Muscle ◽  
Power Performance ◽  
Fascicle Length ◽  
Muscle Fascicle ◽  
The Relationship

Muscle fascicle length and muscle fibre conduction velocity (MFCV) are thought to be important parameters for power performance. It might be expected that faster muscle fibre conduction velocities would compensate for longer fascicle lengths to increase the speed of action potential propagation along the elongated fibres. However, the relationship between muscle fascicle length and MFCV remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between average vastus lateralis MFCV and average fascicle length. In 17 moderately trained, healthy, male, physical education students (age, 23.4 ± 3.1 years; body height, 178 ± 5.5 cm; body mass, 82.7 ± 6.9 kg; body mass index, 24.6 ± 1.5 kg·m−2) resting MFCV was measured with intramuscular microelectrodes while muscle architecture was evaluated with ultrasonography. Fascicle length was highly correlated with total MFCV (r = 0.923, p = 0.000), maximum MFCV (r = 0.949, p = 0.000), and MFCV of the fastest (r = 0.709, p = 0.001), but not of the slowest fibres (r = 0.131, p = 0.616). No significant correlations were also found between vastus lateralis thickness or fascicle angle with any of MFCV parameters (r = 0.145–0.430; R2 < 0.130; p > 0.05). These data indicate that average MFCV is associated with average fascicle length in vastus lateralis muscle in different individuals. It seems that participants with longer fascicle lengths have also higher MFCVs.

Regulation of fiber size, oxidative potential, and capillarization in human muscle by resistance exercise

1999 ◽  
Vol 276 (2) ◽  
pp. R591-R596 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Green ◽  
C. Goreham ◽  
J. Ouyang ◽  
M. Ball-Burnett ◽  
D. Ranney
Keyword(s):  
Fiber Type ◽  
Vastus Lateralis ◽  
Succinic Dehydrogenase ◽  
Quadriceps Muscle ◽  
Cellular Tissue ◽  
Cross Sectional Area ◽  
Fiber Types ◽  
Sectional Area ◽  
Oxidative Potential ◽  
Cross Sectional

To examine the hypothesis that increases in fiber cross-sectional area mediated by high-resistance training (HRT) would result in a decrease in fiber capillarization and oxidative potential, regardless of fiber type, we studied six untrained males (maximum oxygen consumption, 45.6 ± 2.3 ml ⋅ kg−1 ⋅ min−1; mean ± SE) participating in a 12-wk program designed to produce a progressive hypertrophy of the quadriceps muscle. The training sessions, which were conducted 3 times/wk, consisted of three sets of three exercises, each performed for 6–8 repetitions maximum (RM). Measurements of fiber-type distribution obtained from tissue extracted from the vastus lateralis at 0, 4, 7, and 12 wk indicated reductions ( P < 0.05) in type IIB fibers (15.1 ± 2.1% vs. 7.2 ± 1.3%) by 4 wk in the absence of changes in the other fiber types (types I, IIA, and IIAB). Training culminated in a 17% increase ( P < 0.05) in cross-sectional area by 12 wk with initial increases observed at 4 wk. The increase was independent of fiber type-specific changes. The number of capillaries in contact with each fiber type increased by 12 wk, whereas capillary contacts-to-fiber area ratios remained unchanged. In a defined cross-sectional field, HRT also increased the capillaries per fiber at 12 wk. Training failed to alter cellular oxidative potential, as measured by succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) activity, regardless of fiber type and training duration. It is concluded that modest hypertrophy induced by HRT does not compromise cellular tissue capillarization and oxidative potential regardless of fiber type.

Effect of Subcutaneous Tissue on Changes in Thigh Circumference Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (08) ◽  
pp. 544-550
Author(s):  
Ryo Yoshii ◽  
Yu Konishi ◽  
Daisuke Ando ◽  
Satoshi Ochiai ◽  
Tetsuo Hagino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Subcutaneous Tissue ◽  
Cruciate Ligament ◽  
Subcutaneous Fat ◽  
Quadriceps Muscle ◽  
Thigh Circumference ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Anterior Cruciate ◽  
Muscle Cross Sectional Area ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractCircumference measurements have been used to estimate muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) in clinical settings. Measurements of thigh circumference are affected by muscle and subcutaneous fat (SF). In fact, SF could increase over a short period. Therefore, clarifying the relationship between thigh circumference and muscle and SF following ACL reconstruction is important. This study’s primary purpose was to examine pre- and post-operative changes in thigh circumference, thigh muscles and SF CSAs in both legs. Secondary, the relationship between thigh circumference and muscle and SF CSAs was examined to demonstrate that circumference measurements could be used to detect atrophy. Quadriceps, hamstrings, and SF CSAs at 15, 10, and 5 cm proximal to the patella were measured by MRI pre- and 4 weeks postoperatively to examine how reconstruction affected those tissues in the thighs. The results showed increases in SF CSA (r=0.72 at 10 cm, r=0.67 at 15 cm) greatly affected thigh circumference in females on the surgical side. In males, increases in SF CSA (r=0.83) at 15- and 5-cm and decreases in quadriceps muscle CSA (r=0.73) at 5 cm affected thigh circumference on the surgical side. Thigh circumference measurements might not reflect actual muscle CSA in ACL patients.

scholarly journals Whole-limb scaling of muscle mass and force-generating capacity in amniotes

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e12574
Author(s):  
Peter J. Bishop ◽  
Mark A. Wright ◽  
Stephanie E. Pierce
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Muscle Mass ◽  
Generalized Least Squares ◽  
Didelphis Virginiana ◽  
Mass Force ◽  
Fascicle Length ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Generating Capacity ◽  
Internal Architecture

Skeletal muscle mass, architecture and force-generating capacity are well known to scale with body size in animals, both throughout ontogeny and across species. Investigations of limb muscle scaling in terrestrial amniotes typically focus on individual muscles within select clades, but here this question was examined at the level of the whole limb across amniotes generally. In particular, the present study explored how muscle mass, force-generating capacity (measured by physiological cross-sectional area) and internal architecture (fascicle length) scales in the fore- and hindlimbs of extant mammals, non-avian saurians (‘reptiles’) and bipeds (birds and humans). Sixty species spanning almost five orders of magnitude in body mass were investigated, comprising previously published architectural data and new data obtained via dissections of the opossum Didelphis virginiana and the tegu lizard Salvator merianae. Phylogenetic generalized least squares was used to determine allometric scaling slopes (exponents) and intercepts, to assess whether patterns previously reported for individual muscles or functional groups were retained at the level of the whole limb, and to test whether mammals, reptiles and bipeds followed different allometric trajectories. In general, patterns of scaling observed in individual muscles were also observed in the whole limb. Reptiles generally have proportionately lower muscle mass and force-generating capacity compared to mammals, especially at larger body size, and bipeds exhibit strong to extreme positive allometry in the distal hindlimb. Remarkably, when muscle mass was accounted for in analyses of muscle force-generating capacity, reptiles, mammals and bipeds almost ubiquitously followed a single common scaling pattern, implying that differences in whole-limb force-generating capacity are principally driven by differences in muscle mass, not internal architecture. In addition to providing a novel perspective on skeletal muscle allometry in animals, the new dataset assembled was used to generate pan-amniote statistical relationships that can be used to predict muscle mass or force-generating capacity in extinct amniotes, helping to inform future reconstructions of musculoskeletal function in the fossil record.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Lower Limb Muscles’ Electromyographic Activity during the Leg Press Exercise and Its Variants: A Systematic Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (13) ◽  
pp. 4626
Author(s):  
Isabel Martín-Fuentes ◽  
José M. Oliva-Lozano ◽  
José M. Muyor
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Vastus Lateralis ◽  
Muscular Activity ◽  
Rectus Femoris ◽  
Biceps Femoris ◽  
Quadriceps Muscle ◽  
Electromyographic Activity ◽  
Full Extension ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Leg Press

The aim of this study was to analyze the literature on muscle activation measured by surface electromyography (sEMG) of the muscles recruited when performing the leg press exercise and its variants. The Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed to report this review. The search was carried out using the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science electronic databases. The articles selected met the following inclusion criteria: (a) a cross-sectional or longitudinal study design; (b) neuromuscular activation assessed during the leg press exercise, or its variants; (c) muscle activation data collected using sEMG; and (d) study samples comprising healthy and trained participants. The main findings indicate that the leg press exercise elicited the greatest sEMG activity from the quadriceps muscle complex, which was shown to be greater as the knee flexion angle increased. In conclusion, (1) the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis elicited the greatest muscle activation during the leg press exercise, followed closely by the rectus femoris; (2) the biceps femoris and the gastrocnemius medialis showed greater muscular activity as the knee reached full extension, whereas the vastus lateralis and medialis, the rectus femoris, and the tibialis anterior showed a decreasing muscular activity pattern as the knee reached full extension; (3) evidence on the influence of kinematics modifications over sEMG during leg press variants is still not compelling as very few studies match their findings.

Quadriceps and Gastrocnemii Anatomical Cross-Sectional Area and Vastus Lateralis Fascicle Length Predict Peak-Power and Time-To-Peak-Power

2019 ◽  
Vol 91 (1) ◽  
pp. 158-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Coratella ◽  
Stefano Longo ◽  
Susanna Rampichini ◽  
Eloisa Limonta ◽  
Sheida Shokohyar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Peak Power ◽  
Vastus Lateralis ◽  
Cross Sectional Area ◽  
Sectional Area ◽  
Fascicle Length ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Time To Peak

scholarly journals Changes in Muscle Power and Muscle Morphology with Different Volumes of Fast Eccentric Half-Squats

Sports ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Evangelia Zacharia ◽  
Polyxeni Spiliopoulou ◽  
Spyridon Methenitis ◽  
Angeliki-Nikoletta Stasinaki ◽  
Nikolaos Zaras ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Power ◽  
Fiber Type ◽  
Vastus Lateralis ◽  
Power Performance ◽  
Fascicle Length ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Muscle Morphology ◽  
Strength Performance ◽  
Type Composition ◽  
Before And After

The aim of the study was to evaluate power performance and muscle morphology adaptations in response to 5 weeks of fast-eccentric squat training (FEST) performed twice per week, with three different training volumes. Twenty-five moderately trained females were assigned into three groups performing eight repetitions of FEST of either four sets (4 × 8 group; N = 9), 6 sets (6 × 8 group; N = 8) or eight sets (8 × 8 group, N = 8). Before and after the intervention, countermovement jumping height (CMJh) and power (CMJp), half squat maximal strength (1-RM), quadriceps cross-sectional area (QCSA) and vastus lateralis (VL) architecture and fiber type composition were evaluated. Significant increases (p < 0.05) were found for all groups, with no differences among them in 1-RM (4 × 8: 14.8 ± 8.2%, 6 × 8: 13.1 ± 9.2% and 8 × 8: 21.6 ± 7.0%), CMJh (4 × 8: 12.5 ± 8.5%, 6 × 8: 11.3 ± 9.3% and 8 × 8: 7.0 ± 6.2%), CMJp (4 × 8: 9.1 ± 6.0%, 6 × 8: 7.1 ± 5.2% and 8 × 8: 5.0 ± 3.9%) and QCSA (4 × 8: 7.7 ± 4.7%, 6 × 8: 9.0 ± 6.8% and 8 × 8: 8.2 ± 6.5%). Muscle fiber type distribution remained unaltered after training in all groups. VL fascicle length increased and fascicle angle decreased only in 6 × 8 and 8 × 8 groups. In conclusion, four sets of eight fast-eccentric squats/week increase lower body power and strength performance and maintain type IIX muscle fibers after 5 weeks, at least in moderately trained females.

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