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Barbi C, Temesi J, Giuriato G, Laginestra FG, Martignon C, Moro T, Schena F, Venturelli M, Vernillo G. Skeletal muscle fiber type and TMS-induced muscle relaxation in unfatigued and fatigued knee-extensor muscles. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2024; 326:R438-R447. [PMID: 38525536 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00174.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
The force drop after transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) delivered to the motor cortex during voluntary muscle contractions could inform about muscle relaxation properties. Because of the physiological relation between skeletal muscle fiber-type distribution and size and muscle relaxation, TMS could be a noninvasive index of muscle relaxation in humans. By combining a noninvasive technique to record muscle relaxation in vivo (TMS) with the gold standard technique for muscle tissue sampling (muscle biopsy), we investigated the relation between TMS-induced muscle relaxation in unfatigued and fatigued states, and muscle fiber-type distribution and size. Sixteen participants (7F/9M) volunteered to participate. Maximal knee-extensor voluntary isometric contractions were performed with TMS before and after a 2-min sustained maximal voluntary isometric contraction. Vastus lateralis muscle tissue was obtained separately from the participants' dominant limb. Fiber type I distribution and relative cross-sectional area of fiber type I correlated with TMS-induced muscle relaxation at baseline (r = 0.67, adjusted P = 0.01; r = 0.74, adjusted P = 0.004, respectively) and normalized TMS-induced muscle relaxation as a percentage of baseline (r = 0.50, adjusted P = 0.049; r = 0.56, adjusted P = 0.031, respectively). The variance in the normalized peak relaxation rate at baseline (59.8%, P < 0.001) and in the fatigue resistance (23.0%, P = 0.035) were explained by the relative cross-sectional area of fiber type I to total fiber area. Fiber type I proportional area influences TMS-induced muscle relaxation, suggesting TMS as an alternative method to noninvasively inform about skeletal muscle relaxation properties.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)-induced muscle relaxation reflects intrinsic muscle contractile properties by interrupting the drive from the central nervous system during voluntary muscle contractions. We showed that fiber type I proportional area influences the TMS-induced muscle relaxation, suggesting that TMS could be used for the noninvasive estimation of muscle relaxation in unfatigued and fatigued human muscles when the feasibility of more direct method to study relaxation properties (i.e., muscle biopsy) is restricted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Barbi
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - John Temesi
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Gaia Giuriato
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- Surgical, Medical and Dental Department of Morphological Sciences Related to Transplant, Oncology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | | | - Camilla Martignon
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Tatiana Moro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Federico Schena
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Massimo Venturelli
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
| | - Gianluca Vernillo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Social Sciences, University of Alberta, Camrose, Alberta, Canada
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Correia JP, Domingos C, Witvrouw E, Luís P, Rosa A, Vaz JR, Freitas SR. Brain and muscle activity during fatiguing maximum-speed knee movement. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2024; 136:200-212. [PMID: 38059285 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00145.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the underlying mechanisms behind upper limb (e.g., finger) motor slowing during movements performed at the maximum voluntary rate have been explored, the same cannot be said for the lower limb. This is especially relevant considering the lower limb's larger joints and different functional patterns. Despite the similar motor control base, previously found differences in movement patterns and segment inertia may lead to distinct central and peripheral manifestations of fatigue in larger joint movement. Therefore, we aimed to explore these manifestations in a fatiguing knee maximum movement rate task by measuring brain and muscle activity, as well as brain-muscle coupling using corticomuscular coherence, during this task. A significant decrease in knee movement rate up to half the task duration was observed. After an early peak, brain activity showed a generalized decrease during the first half of the task, followed by a plateau, whereas knee flexor muscle activity showed a continuous decline. A similar decline was also seen in corticomuscular coherence but for both flexor and extensor muscles. The electrophysiological manifestations associated with knee motor slowing therefore showed some common and some distinct aspects compared with smaller joint tasks. Both central and peripheral manifestations of fatigue were observed; the changes seen in both EEG and electromyographic (EMG) variables suggest that multiple mechanisms were involved in exercise regulation and fatigue development.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The loss of knee movement rate with acute fatigue induced by high-speed movement is associated with both central and peripheral electrophysiological changes, such as a decrease in EEG power, increased agonist-antagonist cocontraction, and impaired brain-muscle coupling. These findings had not previously been reported for the knee joint, which shows functional and physiological differences compared with the existing findings for smaller upper limb joints.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Pedro Correia
- Laboratório de Função Neuromuscular, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Cruz Quebrada, Portugal
- CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Cruz Quebrada, Portugal
| | - Christophe Domingos
- Department of Clinical Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
- Centro de Investigação em Qualidade de Vida (CIEQV), Escola Superior de Desporto de Rio Maior, Instituto Politécnico de Santarém, Rio Maior, Portugal
| | - Erik Witvrouw
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Pedro Luís
- Evolutionary Systems and Biomedical Engineering Lab (LaSEEB), Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Agostinho Rosa
- Evolutionary Systems and Biomedical Engineering Lab (LaSEEB), Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - João R Vaz
- CIPER, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Cruz Quebrada, Portugal
- Egas Moniz Center for Interdisciplinary Research, Egas Moniz School of Health & Science, Monte da Caparica, Portugal
| | - Sandro R Freitas
- Laboratório de Função Neuromuscular, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Cruz Quebrada, Portugal
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Varesco G, Coratella G, Rozand V, Cuinet B, Lombardi G, Mourot L, Vernillo G. Downhill running affects the late but not the early phase of the rate of force development. Eur J Appl Physiol 2022; 122:2049-2059. [PMID: 35790580 PMCID: PMC9381441 DOI: 10.1007/s00421-022-04990-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the acute changes in the knee extensors maximum voluntary isometric contraction force (MVIC), rate of force development (RFD), and rate of EMG rise (RER) following a bout of downhill running. Methods MVIC and RFD at 0–50, 50–100, 100–200, and 0–200 ms were determined in thirteen men (22 ± 2 yr) before and after 30 min of downhill running (speed: 10 km h−1; slope: − 20%). Vastus lateralis maximum EMG (EMGmax) and RER at 0–30, 0–50, and 0–75 ms were also recorded. Results MVIC, RFD0–200, and EMGmax decreased by ~ 25% [Cohen’s d = − 1.09 (95% confidence interval: − 1.88/− 0.24)], ~ 15% [d = − 0.50 (− 1.26/0.30)], and ~ 22% [d = − 0.37 (− 1.13/0.42)] (all P < 0.05), respectively. RFD100–200 was also reduced [− 25%; d = − 0.70 (− 1.47/0.11); P < 0.001]. No change was observed at 0–50 ms and 50–100 ms (P ≥ 0.05). RER values were similar at each time interval (all P > 0.05). Conclusion Downhill running impairs the muscle capacity to produce maximum force and the overall ability to rapidly develop force. No change was observed for the early phase of the RFD and the absolute RER, suggesting no alterations in the neural mechanisms underlying RFD. RFD100–200 reduction suggests that impairments in the rapid force-generating capacity are located within the skeletal muscle, likely due to a reduction in muscle–tendon stiffness and/or impairments in the muscle contractile apparatus. These findings may help explain evidence of neuromuscular alterations in trail runners and following prolonged duration races wherein cumulative eccentric loading is high.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Varesco
- Inter-University Laboratory of Human Movement Biology (EA 7424), UJM-Saint-Etienne, Université de Lyon, 42023, Saint-Etienne, France
| | - Giuseppe Coratella
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Building 2, via G. Colombo 71, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Vianney Rozand
- Inter-University Laboratory of Human Movement Biology (EA 7424), UJM-Saint-Etienne, Université de Lyon, 42023, Saint-Etienne, France
| | - Benjamin Cuinet
- Prognostic Factors and Regulatory Factors of Cardiac and Vascular Pathologies (EA3920), Exercise Performance Health Innovation (EPHI) Platform, University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 25000, Besançon, France
| | - Giovanni Lombardi
- Laboratory of Experimental Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, IRCCS Orthopedic Institute Galeazzi, 20161, Milan, Italy.,Department of Athletics, Strength and Conditioning, Poznań University of Physical Education, 61-871, Poznań, Poland
| | - Laurent Mourot
- Prognostic Factors and Regulatory Factors of Cardiac and Vascular Pathologies (EA3920), Exercise Performance Health Innovation (EPHI) Platform, University of Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 25000, Besançon, France.,Division for Physical Education, Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk Oblast, 634050, Russia
| | - Gianluca Vernillo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Building 2, via G. Colombo 71, 20133, Milan, Italy.
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Colosio M, Rasica L, Baldassarre G, Temesi J, Vernillo G, Marzorati M, Porcelli S. Performance fatigability and recovery after dynamic multi-joint maximal exercise in elbow flexors versus knee extensors. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2022; 323:R300-R309. [PMID: 35759521 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00173.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Elbow flexors (EF) and knee extensors (KE) have shown differences in performance fatigability and recovery of neuromuscular function after isometric and isotonic single-joint fatiguing contractions. However, dynamic multi-joint movements are more representative of real-world activities. The aim of the study was to assess central and peripheral mechanisms of fatigability after either arm-cranking or cycling. Ten physically-active men performed maximal incremental arm-cranking and cycling until task-failure. Maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) and electrically-evoked forces of both EF and KE were assessed before (PRE) and 1 (POST) and 20 (POST20) min after exercise. At POST, MVIC decreased similarly to 76 ± 8% and 81 ± 7% (both P < 0.001) of PRE for EF and KE, respectively. MVIC force remained lower than PRE at POST20 for both EF and KE (85 ± 8% vs. 95 ± 3% of PRE, P ≤ 0.033), having recovered less in EF than KE (P = 0.003). Electrically-evoked forces decreased similarly from PRE to POST in EF and KE (all P > 0.05). At POST20, the ratio of low-to-high frequency doublets was lowerin EF than KE (75 ± 13% vs. 85 ± 10% of PRE; P ≤ 0.034). Dynamic maximal incremental exercise acutely induced similar magnitudes of MVIC and evoked forces loss in EF and KE. However, at POST20, impaired MVIC recovery and lower ratio of low-to-high frequency doublets in EF compared to KE suggests the recovery of neuromuscular function after dynamic maximal exercises is specific to and dependent on changes within the muscles investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Letizia Rasica
- Faculty of Kinesiology, grid.22072.35University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
| | - Giovanni Baldassarre
- Department of Medicine, grid.5390.fUniversità degli Studi di Milano, Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - John Temesi
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, grid.42629.3bNorthumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | | | - Mauro Marzorati
- Institue of Biomedical Technologies, grid.5326.2National Research Council, Segrate, Milano, Italy
| | - Simone Porcelli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, grid.8982.bUniversity of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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Vernillo G, Khassetarash A, Millet GY, Temesi J. Use of transcranial magnetic stimulation to assess relaxation rates in unfatigued and fatigued knee-extensor muscles. Exp Brain Res 2020; 239:205-216. [PMID: 33140192 PMCID: PMC7884370 DOI: 10.1007/s00221-020-05921-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We examined whether transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) delivered to the motor cortex allows assessment of muscle relaxation rates in unfatigued and fatigued knee extensors (KE). We assessed the ability of this technique to measure time course of fatigue-induced changes in muscle relaxation rate and compared relaxation rate from resting twitches evoked by femoral nerve stimulation. Twelve healthy men performed maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVC) twice before (PRE) and once at the end of a 2-min KE MVC and five more times within 8 min during recovery. Relative (intraclass correlation coefficient; ICC2,1) and absolute (repeatability coefficient) reliability and variability (coefficient of variation) were assessed. Time course of fatigue-induced changes in muscle relaxation rate was tested with generalized estimating equations. In unfatigued KE, peak relaxation rate coefficient of variation and repeatability coefficient were similar for both techniques. Mean (95% CI) ICC2,1 for peak relaxation rates were 0.933 (0.724–0.982) and 0.889 (0.603–0.968) for TMS and femoral nerve stimulation, respectively. TMS-induced normalized muscle relaxation rate was − 11.5 ± 2.5 s−1 at PRE, decreased to − 6.9 ± 1.2 s−1 (− 37 ± 17%, P < 0.001), and recovered by 2 min post-exercise. Normalized peak relaxation rate for resting twitch did not show a fatigue-induced change. During fatiguing KE exercise, the change in muscle relaxation rate as determined by the two techniques was different. TMS provides reliable values of muscle relaxation rates. Furthermore, it is sufficiently sensitive and more appropriate than the resting twitch evoked by femoral nerve stimulation to reveal fatigue-induced changes in KE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianluca Vernillo
- Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università Degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Arash Khassetarash
- Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Guillaume Y Millet
- Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,University of Lyon, UJM Saint-Etienne, Inter-University Laboratory of Human Movement Biology, EA 7424), 42023, Saint-Etienne, France.,Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France
| | - John Temesi
- Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. .,Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
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