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Beneficial effects of serial contractions on muscle performance after a brief period of rest

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Abstract

Purpose

The study investigated potential mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of performing serial contractions for increasing muscle performance.

Methods

Thirteen men performed maximal isometric dorsiflexion contractions to a limited amount of fatigue. The recovery pattern was monitored over 15 min. Force, surface electromyography (sEMG) of the agonist and antagonist, and skin temperature were observed. Evoked potentials were elicited.

Results

Force decreased to 206 ± 40 N and recovered to 243 ± 55 N (102 % of initial value). While full recovery is noteworthy, it was not significant (p = 0.24). Surface EMG root-mean-square (RMS) amplitude did not fully recover: tibialis anterior (219 ± 46 versus 242 ± 63 μV, 91 %) and soleus (13 ± 5 versus 16 ± 6 μV, 82 %). The result was an 11 % decrease in the co-activation ratio during recovery. Tibialis anterior and soleus mean power frequency (MPF) “over-recovered” to 117 % (144 ± 25 versus 124 ± 27 Hz) and 118 % (80 ± 14 versus 68 ± 11 Hz) of initial value, respectively. Peak rate of force development (RFD) during recovery was 146 % of initial (743 ± 246 versus 509 ± 271 N). Skin temperature increased 0.6 °C over the test session. Potentiation was not present during recovery, as assessed by twitch force.

Conclusions

The return of force to initial values, rather than a persistent decrement was a result of several mechanisms operating simultaneously. The sEMG data indicate an increase in conduction velocity, while an increase in peak RFD suggests contraction-induced facilitation of ATPase pump activity. However, alterations in muscle coordination were observed as a reduction in antagonist co-activity.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

ATPase:

Adenosine triphosphatase

EMG:

Electromyography

MPF:

Mean power frequency

MVC:

Maximal voluntary contraction

Q30 :

The rate of increase in the sEMG signal from onset to 30 ms

RFD:

Rate of force development

RMS:

Root-mean-square

sEMG:

Surface electromyography

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by an operating Grant to the corresponding author from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

Conflict of interest

There are no conflicts of interest associated with this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Electromyographic Kinesiology Laboratory, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Brock University, 500 Glenridge Avenue, St. Catharines, Ontario, L2S 3A1, Canada

    Lara A. Green, Justin J. Parro & David A. Gabriel

Authors
  1. Lara A. Green
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  2. Justin J. Parro
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  3. David A. Gabriel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to David A. Gabriel.

Additional information

Communicated by Toshio Moritani.

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Green, L.A., Parro, J.J. & Gabriel, D.A. Beneficial effects of serial contractions on muscle performance after a brief period of rest. Eur J Appl Physiol 114, 1657–1665 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-014-2896-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-014-2896-8

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