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Nishikawa T, Hirono T, Takeda R, Okudaira M, Ohya T, Watanabe K. One-week quercetin intervention modifies motor unit recruitment patterns before and during resistance exercise in older adults: A randomized controlled trial. Physiol Behav 2024; 282:114585. [PMID: 38762195 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2024.114585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
We investigated the effects of one-week quercetin ingestion on motor unit (MU) behavior and muscle contractile properties before, during, and after a single session of resistance exercise in older adults. Twenty-four older adults were divided into two groups: those receiving quercetin glycosides (QUE) or placebo (PLA), and they performed a single session of resistance exercise. MU behavior before and during resistance exercise and electrically elicited contraction before and after resistance exercise were measured (Day 1), and the same measurements were conducted again after 7 days of placebo or quercetin glycoside ingestion (Day 8). The MU recruitment threshold (RT) was decreased (p < 0.001, 25.6 ± 10.1 to 23.6 ± 9.5 %MVC) and the exerted force normalized by the MU firing rate (FR) was increased (p = 0.003, 1.13 ± 0.24 to 1.18 ± 0.22 %MVC/pps) from Days 1 to 8, respectively, in QUE but not PLA (p = 0.263, 22.6 ± 11.9 to 21.9 ± 11.6 %MVC; p = 0.713, 1.09 ± 0.20 to 1.10 ± 0.19 %MVC/pps, respectively). On Day 1, a significant correlation between MURT and%change in MUFR from the first to last contractions during the resistance exercise was observed in both groups (QUE: p = 0.009, rs = 0.308; PLA: p < 0.001, rs = 0.403). On Day 8 %change in MUFR was negatively correlated with MURT in QUE (p = 0.044, rs = -0.251), but there was no significant correlation in PLA (p = 0.844). There was no difference in electrically elicited contraction before and after the resistance exercise between QUE and PLA (p < 0.05). These results suggest that one-week quercetin ingestion in older adults lowered MURT and led to greater fatigue in MU with higher RT than with lower RT during resistance training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taichi Nishikawa
- Graduate School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan; Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Hirono
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan; Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Takeda
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan
| | - Masamichi Okudaira
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan; Faculty of Education, Iwate University, Iwate, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Ohya
- Laboratory for Exercise Physiology and Biomechanics, Graduate School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan
| | - Kohei Watanabe
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan.
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Nishikawa T, Hirono T, Holobar A, Kunugi S, Okudaira M, Ohya T, Watanabe K. Acute effects of caffeine or quercetin ingestion on motor unit firing pattern before and after resistance exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol 2024; 124:1645-1658. [PMID: 38193908 DOI: 10.1007/s00421-023-05376-0] [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: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the acute effect of caffeine or quercetin ingestion on motor unit firing patterns and muscle contractile properties before and after resistance exercise. High-density surface electromyography (HDs-EMG) during submaximal contractions and electrically elicited torque in knee extensor muscles were measured before (PRE) and 60 min after (POST1) ingestion of caffeine, quercetin glycosides, or placebo, and after resistance exercise (POST2) in ten young males. The Convolution Kernel Compensation technique was used to identify individual motor units of the vastus lateralis muscle for the recorded HDs-EMG. Ingestion of caffeine or quercetin induced significantly greater decreases in recruitment thresholds (RTs) from PRE to POST1 compared with placebo (placebo: 94.8 ± 9.7%, caffeine: 84.5 ± 16.2%, quercetin: 91.9 ± 36.7%), and there were significant negative correlations between the change in RTs (POST1-PRE) and RT at PRE for caffeine (rs = - 0.448, p < 0.001) and quercetin (rs = - 0.415, p = 0.003), but not placebo (rs = - 0.109, p = 0.440). Significant positive correlations between the change in firing rates (POST2-POST1) and RT at PRE were noted with placebo (rs = 0.380, p = 0.005) and quercetin (rs = 0.382, p = 0.007), but not caffeine (rs = 0.069, p = 0.606). No significant differences were observed in electrically elicited torque among the three conditions. These results suggest that caffeine or quercetin ingestion alters motor unit firing patterns after resistance exercise in different threshold-dependent manners in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taichi Nishikawa
- Graduate School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Kaizu-Cho, Tokodachi, Toyota, 470-0093, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Hirono
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Kaizu-Cho, Tokodachi, Toyota, 470-0093, Japan
- Research Fellow of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Aleš Holobar
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Shun Kunugi
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Kaizu-Cho, Tokodachi, Toyota, 470-0093, Japan
- Center for General Education, Aichi Institute of Technology, Toyota, Japan
| | - Masamichi Okudaira
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Kaizu-Cho, Tokodachi, Toyota, 470-0093, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Ohya
- Laboratory for Exercise Physiology and Biomechanics, Graduate School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan
| | - Kohei Watanabe
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Kaizu-Cho, Tokodachi, Toyota, 470-0093, Japan.
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Nishikawa T, Hirono T, Takeda R, Okudaira M, Ohya T, Watanabe K. Effects of 7-day quercetin intervention on motor unit activity and muscle contractile properties before and after resistance exercise in young adults randomized controlled trials. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2024; 49:447-458. [PMID: 38033306 DOI: 10.1139/apnm-2023-0208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
We investigated whether the alteration of the motor unit recruitment threshold (MURT) caused by quercetin ingestion intervention for 7 days modifies motor unit activation patterns before and after a single session of resistance exercise. Twenty young male and female adults were divided into two groups: ingestion of placebo (PLA) or quercetin glycosides at 200 mg/day (QUE). High-density surface electromyography during submaximal contractions was measured to assess the motor unit firing rate (MUFR) and MURT of the vastus lateralis muscle before (PRE) and after (POST) resistance exercise (DAY1). The same measurements were repeated after 7 days of placebo or quercetin glycoside ingestion (DAY8). In QUE, MURT decreased more from DAY1-PRE to DAY8-PRE (29.1 ± 9.1 to 27.1 ± 9.5% MVC, p < 0.001) but not in PLA (29.8 ± 10.4 to 28.9 ± 9.7% MVC, p < 0.167). For percentage change in MUFR following resistance exercise, there was a significant interaction (day × group, p < 0.001). The degree of changes in MURT from DAY1-PRE to DAY8-PRE was significantly correlated with the percentage change of MUFR from DAY8-PRE to DAY8-POST in QUE (p = 0.014, r = -0.363) but not in PLA (p = 0.518). The study suggests that 7-day quercetin ingestion alters the motor unit recruitment pattern, and this may induce changes in motor unit firing patterns during a single session of resistance training (Trial registration: UMIN000052255, R000059650).
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Affiliation(s)
- Taichi Nishikawa
- Graduate School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Hirono
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan
- Research Fellow of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Takeda
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan
| | - Masamichi Okudaira
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Ohya
- School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Aichi, Japan
| | - Kohei Watanabe
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan
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Hirono T, Igawa K, Okudaira M, Takeda R, Nishikawa T, Watanabe K. Time-of-day effects on motor unit firing and muscle contractile properties in humans. J Neurophysiol 2024; 131:472-479. [PMID: 38264791 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00368.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Intrinsic factors related to neuromuscular function are time-of-day dependent, but diurnal rhythms in neural and muscular components of the human neuromuscular system remain unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the time-of-day effects on neural excitability and muscle contractile properties by assessing the firing properties of tracked motor units and electrically evoked twitch muscle contraction. In 15 young adults (22.9 ± 4.7 yr), neuromuscular function was measured in the morning (10:00), at noon (13:30), in the evening (17:00), and at night (20:30). Four measurements were completed within 24 h. The measurements consisted of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) strength of knee extension, recording of high-density surface electromyography (HDsEMG) from the vastus lateralis during ramp-up contraction to 50% of MVC, and evoked twitch torque of knee extensors by electrical stimulation. Recorded HDsEMG signals were decomposed to individual motor unit firing behaviors and the same motor units were tracked among the times of day, and recruitment thresholds and firing rates were calculated. The number of detected and tracked motor units was 127. Motor unit firing rates significantly increased from morning to noon, evening, and night (P < 0.01), but there were no significant differences in recruitment thresholds among the times of day (P > 0.05). Also, there were no significant effects of time of day on evoked twitch torque (P > 0.05). Changes in the motor unit firing rate and evoked twitch torque were not significantly correlated (P > 0.05). These findings suggest that neural excitability may be affected by the time of day, but it did not accompany changes in peripheral contractile properties in a diurnal manner.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We investigated the variations of tracked motor unit firing properties and electrically evoked twitch contraction during the day within 24 h. The variation of motor unit firing rate was observed, and tracked motor unit firing rate increased at noon, in the evening, and at night compared with that in the morning. The variation in motor unit firing rate was independent of changes in twitch contraction. Motor unit firing rate may be affected by diurnal rhythms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuya Hirono
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan
- Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kaito Igawa
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan
| | - Masamichi Okudaira
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan
- Faculty of Education, Iwate University, Morioka, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Takeda
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan
| | - Taichi Nishikawa
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan
| | - Kohei Watanabe
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan
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Takeda R, Nojima H, Nishikawa T, Okudaira M, Hirono T, Watanabe K. Subtetanic neuromuscular electrical stimulation can maintain Wingate test performance but augment blood lactate accumulation. Eur J Appl Physiol 2024; 124:433-444. [PMID: 37535142 DOI: 10.1007/s00421-023-05291-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Concentration- and time-dependent effect of lactate on physiological adaptation (i.e., glycolytic adaptation and mitochondrial biogenesis) have been reported. Subtetanic neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) with voluntary exercise (VOLES) can increase blood lactate accumulation. However, whether this is also true that VOLES can enhance the blood lactate accumulation during sprint exercise is unknown. Thus, we investigated whether VOLES before the Wingate test can enhance blood lactate accumulation without compromising Wingate exercise performance. METHODS Fifteen healthy young males (mean [SD], age: 23 [4] years, body mass index: 22.0 [2.1] kg/m2) volunteered. After resting measurement, participants performed a 3-min intervention: VOLES (NMES with free-weight cycling) or voluntary cycling alone, which matched exercise intensity with VOLES (VOL, 43.6 [8.0] watt). Then, they performed the Wingate test with 30 min free-weight cycling recovery. The blood lactate concentration ([La]b) was assessed at the end of resting and intervention, and recovery at 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, and 30 min. RESULTS [La]b during intervention was higher with VOLES than VOL (P = 0.011). The increase in [La]b after the Wingate test was maintained for longer with VOLES than VOL at 10- and 20-min recovery (P = 0.014 and 0.023, respectively). Based on the Wingate test, peak power, mean power, and the rate of decline were not significantly different between VOLES and VOL (P = 0.184, 0.201, and 0.483, respectively). CONCLUSION The combination of subtetanic NMES with voluntary exercise before the Wingate test has the potential to enhance blood lactate accumulation. Importantly, this combined approach does not compromise Wingate exercise performance compared to voluntary exercise alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryosuke Takeda
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Science, Chukyo University, 101 Tokodachi, Kaizu-cho, Toyota, Aichi, 470-0393, Japan.
| | - Hiroya Nojima
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Science, Chukyo University, 101 Tokodachi, Kaizu-cho, Toyota, Aichi, 470-0393, Japan
| | - Taichi Nishikawa
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Science, Chukyo University, 101 Tokodachi, Kaizu-cho, Toyota, Aichi, 470-0393, Japan
- Graduate School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan
| | - Masamichi Okudaira
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Science, Chukyo University, 101 Tokodachi, Kaizu-cho, Toyota, Aichi, 470-0393, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Hirono
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Science, Chukyo University, 101 Tokodachi, Kaizu-cho, Toyota, Aichi, 470-0393, Japan
- Research Fellow of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kohei Watanabe
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Science, Chukyo University, 101 Tokodachi, Kaizu-cho, Toyota, Aichi, 470-0393, Japan
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Takeda R, Nojima H, Hirono T, Okudaira M, Nishikawa T, Watanabe K. Impact of subtetanic neuromuscular electrical stimulation on cardiac autonomic nervous system in young individuals. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2024; 64:78-87. [PMID: 37902806 DOI: 10.23736/s0022-4707.23.15352-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although subtetanic neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has been proposed as an exercise training and/or rehabilitation tool, the impact of NMES on the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is unclear. Thus, we hypothesized that NMES would alter ANS, i.e., increase sympathetic activity and decrease parasympathetic activity, in young individuals. METHODS Eighteen healthy young individuals (16 males, mean age: 22 [SD: 4] years, Body Mass Index: 21.7 [2.2] kg/m2) volunteered. Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and R-R intervals were recorded during 6-minute resting, NMES, and recovery conditions. Short-term heart rate variability analysis of R-R intervals was performed for the frequency and time domains during each condition. Time domain indices included the root mean square of successive R-R interval differences (RMSSD), and the percentage of successive R-R intervals differing by more than 50ms (pRR50%). Frequency domain indices (fast Fourier transform) of R-R intervals included total power (TP), low-frequency (LF) power (0.04-0.15 Hz), and high-frequency (HF) power (0.15-0.4 Hz). RESULTS BP was not altered but HR was significantly increased during NMES (P<0.001), and it returned to the resting level at recovery. RMSSD and pRR50 decreased from resting to NMES and returned at recovery conditions (P<0.05, respectively). TP and HF decreased from resting to NMES and returned at recovery conditions (P<0.05, respectively). LF increased from NMES to recovery (P<0.05). The LF/HF ratio showed no significant differences between conditions (P=0.210). CONCLUSIONS Cardiac ANS fluctuated by subtetanic NMES without BP elevation in healthy young individuals. Parasympathetic but not sympathetic activity was affected by NMES stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryosuke Takeda
- School of Health and Sport Science, Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan -
| | - Hiroya Nojima
- School of Health and Sport Science, Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Hirono
- School of Health and Sport Science, Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masamichi Okudaira
- School of Health and Sport Science, Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan
| | - Taichi Nishikawa
- School of Health and Sport Science, Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan
- Graduate School of Health and Sport Sciences, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan
| | - Kohei Watanabe
- School of Health and Sport Science, Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, Chukyo University, Toyota, Japan
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Watanabe K, Kunugi S, Holobar A. The dose-response relationship of quercetin on the motor unit firing patterns and contractile properties of muscle in men and women. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2023; 20:2265140. [PMID: 37786989 PMCID: PMC10548840 DOI: 10.1080/15502783.2023.2265140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Quercetin is one type of ergogenic aid and its effects on the neuromuscular system have recently attracted interest, but its dose-effect is not yet fully understood. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of different doses of quercetin ingestion on motor unit firing patterns and muscle contractile properties in humans. Thirteen young males and females conducted neuromuscular performance tests before (PRE) and 60 min after (POST) ingestions of 500 or 200 mg of quercetin glycosides (Qg500/Qg200, respectively) or placebo (PLA) on three different days. At PRE and POST, motor unit firing rates were calculated from high-density surface electromyography of the vastus lateralis muscle during 120-s isometric contraction of knee extension at 10% of maximal voluntary contraction. Electrically elicited forces in knee extensor muscles were also measured. After 60 s of voluntary contraction, motor unit firing rates, normalized by the exerted muscle force at POST, were significantly lower at POST than PRE with Qg500 and Qg200 (p < 0.05), but not with PLA (p > 0.05). Changes in motor unit firing rates normalized by the exerted force from PRE to POST were significantly greater with Qg500 than Qg200 at the end of contraction (p < 0.05). Under all three conditions, the electrically elicited force did not significantly change from PRE to POST (p > 0.05). These results suggest that both 500 and 200-mg quercetin ingestions alter motor unit firing patterns, and that quercetin's effect is at least partially dose-dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kohei Watanabe
- Chukyo University, Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Toyota, Japan
| | - Shun Kunugi
- Chukyo University, Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Sciences, Toyota, Japan
| | - Aleš Holobar
- University of Maribor, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Maribor, Slovenia
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Hirono T, Kunugi S, Yoshimura A, Holobar A, Watanabe K. Acute changes in motor unit discharge property after concentric versus eccentric contraction exercise in knee extensor. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2022; 67:102704. [PMID: 36137408 DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2022.102704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the motor unit firing property immediately after concentric or eccentric contraction exercise. Eighteen healthy men performed repetitive maximal isokinetic knee extension exercises with only concentric or eccentric contraction until they exerted less than 80% of the baseline strength. Before and after the fatiguing exercise, high-density surface electromyography of the vastus lateralis was recorded during submaximal ramp-up isometric contraction and individual motor units were identified. Only motor units that could be tracked before and after exercise were analyzed. Muscle cross-sectional area of the vastus lateralis was measured using ultrasound, and electrically evoked torque was recorded before and after the exercise. Sixty-five and fifty-three motor units were analyzed before and after the concentric and eccentric contractions, respectively. The results showed that motor units with moderate to high recruitment thresholds significantly decreased recruitment thresholds under both conditions, and the motor unit discharge rates significantly increased after concentric contraction compared to eccentric contraction. A greater muscle cross-sectional area was observed with concentric contraction. The evoked torque was significantly decreased under both conditions, but no difference between the conditions. These results suggest that fatiguing exercise with concentric contraction contributes to greater neural input to muscles and metabolic responses than eccentric contraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuya Hirono
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Science, Chukyo University, 101 Tokodachi, Kaizu-cho, Toyota, Aichi 470-0393, Japan; Research Fellow of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan.
| | - Shun Kunugi
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Science, Chukyo University, 101 Tokodachi, Kaizu-cho, Toyota, Aichi 470-0393, Japan; Center for General Education, Aichi Institute of Technology, 1247 Yachigusa, Yakusa-cho, Toyota-shi, Aichi 470-0392, Japan
| | - Akane Yoshimura
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Science, Chukyo University, 101 Tokodachi, Kaizu-cho, Toyota, Aichi 470-0393, Japan; Faculty of Education and Integrated Arts and Sciences, Waseda University, 1-6-1, Nishiwaseda, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-8050, Japan
| | - Aleš Holobar
- Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Maribor, Koroška cesta 46, SI-2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Kohei Watanabe
- Laboratory of Neuromuscular Biomechanics, School of Health and Sport Science, Chukyo University, 101 Tokodachi, Kaizu-cho, Toyota, Aichi 470-0393, Japan
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Labanca L, Bonsanto F, Raffa D, Orlandi Magli A, Benedetti MG. Does adding neuromuscular electrical stimulation to rehabilitation following total knee arthroplasty lead to a better quadriceps muscle strength recovery? A systematic review. Int J Rehabil Res 2022; 45:118-125. [PMID: 35256573 DOI: 10.1097/mrr.0000000000000525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) show postsurgical quadriceps weakness. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has been shown to be an effective treatment for muscle strength recovery in a number of orthopaedic conditions. The aim of this review is to investigate whether adding NMES to TKA rehabilitation leads to a better quadriceps strength recovery in comparison with standardized rehabilitation. A second aim is to investigate which are the most commonly used NMES pulse settings and their effectiveness. A systematic review of literature was conducted on PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus and Web-of-Science. Intervention studies evaluating the effects of a rehabilitation intervention based on quadriceps NMES in patients undergoing TKA were retrieved. Methodological quality was assessed using the risk of bias-2 Cochrane tool. Features of NMES rehabilitation and technical data on NMES settings were extracted from the studies. Four studies met the inclusion criteria. Due to the limited number and the heterogeneity of the selected studies, it was not appropriate to carry out a meta-analysis. All the studies reported higher quadriceps strength in patients undergoing quadriceps NMES, particularly early after TKA. The addition of NMES or traditional strength training shows similar long-term effects. Short duration and low-intensity NMES have limited effects on quadriceps strength. Heterogeneity was found on NMES methodologies and pulse settings. In conclusion, NMES is effective for quadriceps strength recovery following TKA. NMES intensity and duration are essential for good NMES outcomes on quadriceps strength. Further studies on NMES methodologies, pulse features and settings are required to address the gaps in knowledge on NMES following TKA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Labanca
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, IRCCS - Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabio Bonsanto
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, IRCCS - Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli
| | - Debora Raffa
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, IRCCS - Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli
| | | | - Maria Grazia Benedetti
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, IRCCS - Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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