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Valdes O, Inzulza S, Collao N, Garcia-Vicencio S, Tufano JJ, Earp J, Venegas M, Peñailillo L. Eccentric Cycling Is an Alternative to Nordic Hamstring Exercise to Increase the Neuromuscular Function of Knee Flexors in Untrained Men. J Strength Cond Res 2023; 37:2158-2166. [PMID: 37883395 DOI: 10.1519/jsc.0000000000004529] [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: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Valdes, O, Inzulza, S, Collao, N, Garcia-Vicencio, S, Tufano, JJ, Earp, J, Venegas, M, and Peñailillo, L. Eccentric cycling is an alternative to Nordic hamstring exercise to increase the neuromuscular function of knee flexors in untrained men. J Strength Cond Res 37(11): 2158-2166, 2023-Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) has been proposed to reduce knee flexor (KF) injuries. However, submaximal alternatives to NHE are necessary for the clinical or weaker population. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of Nordic hamstring training (NHT) and eccentric cycling (ECC) training on the neuromuscular function of the KF. Twenty healthy men (27.7 ± 3.5 years) were randomly assigned into 2 groups that performed 10 training sessions (2-3 sessions·week-1) of either NHT (n = 10) or ECC (n = 10). Maximal voluntary isometric contraction of the KF and knee extensor (KE) muscles (MVICKF and MVICKE) was measured, and the hamstring/quadriceps strength (H/Q) ratio was calculated. Furthermore, changes in NHE maximum reaction force (NHE-MRFKF), NHE break-point angle (NHE-BPA), and muscle activity of the semitendinosus (STEMG) and biceps femoris (BFEMG) during the NHE after the interventions were compared. Although no group × time effects were observed (p = 0.09-0.70), but time effects were found for all variables. Pairwise comparisons revealed that MVICKF (+16.9%; p = 0.02), H/Q ratio (+11.8%; p = 0.01), NHE-MRFKF (+19.8%; p = 0.005), and NHE-BPA (+30.8%; p = 0.001) increased after ECC, whereas NHE-MRFKF (+9.7%; p = 0.003), NHE-BPA (+35.5%; p = 0.0002), and STEMG (+33.7%; p = 0.02) increased after NHT. A group × time effect was observed (p = 0.003) in BFEMG, revealing an increase only after ECC (+41.1%; p < 0.0001). Similar neuromuscular adaptations were found after both training modalities. Therefore, ECC provides similar adaptations as NHT and may serve as an alternative form of KF training for those unable to perform NHE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Valdes
- Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad de Las Americas, Santiago, Chile
| | - Sixto Inzulza
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Finis Terrae, Santiago, Chile
| | - Nicolas Collao
- School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sebastián Garcia-Vicencio
- Human Motion Analysis, Humanfab, Aix-en-Provence, France
- LBEPS, Univ Evry, IRBA, Université Paris Saclay, Evry, France
| | - James J Tufano
- Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jacob Earp
- Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Arts and Physical Education, Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de La Educación, Santiago, Chile
| | - Mauricio Venegas
- School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Finis Terrae, Santiago, Chile
- Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Arts and Physical Education, Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de La Educación, Santiago, Chile
| | - Luis Peñailillo
- Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
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Walsh JA, McAndrew DJ, Shemmell J, Stapley PJ. Reliability and Variability of Lower Limb Muscle Activation as Indicators of Familiarity to Submaximal Eccentric Cycling. Front Physiol 2022; 13:953517. [PMID: 35874539 PMCID: PMC9304807 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.953517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Submaximal eccentric (ECC) cycling exercise is commonly used in research studies. No previous study has specified the required time naïve participants take to familiarize with submaximal ECC cycling. Therefore, we designed this study to determine whether critical indicators of cycling reliability and variability stabilize during 15 min of submaximal, semi-recumbent ECC cycling (ECC cycling). Twenty-two participants, aged between 18–51 years, volunteered to complete a single experimental session. Each participant completed three peak eccentric torque protocol (PETP) tests, nine countermovement jumps and 15 min of submaximal (i.e., 10% peak power output produced during the PETP tests) ECC cycling. Muscle activation patterns were recorded from six muscles (rectus femoris, RF; vastus lateralis, VL; vastus medialis, VM; soleus, SOL; medial gastrocnemius, GM; tibialis anterior, TA), during prescribed-intensity ECC cycling, using electromyography (EMG). Minute-to-minute changes in the reliability and variability of EMG patterns were examined using intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and variance ratios (VR). Differences between target and actual power output were also used as an indicator of familiarization. Activation patterns for 4/6 muscles (RF, VL, VM and GM) became more consistent over the session, the RF, VL and VM increasing from moderate (ICC = 0.5–0.75) to good (ICC = 0.75–0.9) reliability by the 11th minute of cycling and the GM good reliability from the 1st minute (ICC = 0.79, ICC range = 0.70–0.88). Low variability (VR ≤ 0.40) was maintained for VL, VM and GM from the 8th, 8th and 1st minutes, respectively. We also observed a significant decrease in the difference between actual and target power output (χ214 = 30.895, p = 0.006, W = 0.105), expressed primarily between the 2nd and 3rd minute of cycling (Z = -2.677, p = 0.007). Indicators of familiarization during ECC cycling, including deviations from target power output levels and the reliability and variability of muscle activation patterns stabilized within 15 min of cycling. Based upon this data, it would be reasonable for future studies to allocate ∼ 15 min to familiarize naïve participants with a submaximal ECC cycling protocol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel A. Walsh
- Neural Control of Movement Laboratory, School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Darryl J. McAndrew
- Neural Control of Movement Laboratory, School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
- Graduate School of Medicine, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Jonathan Shemmell
- Neuromotor Adaptation Laboratory, School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Paul J. Stapley
- Neural Control of Movement Laboratory, School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
- *Correspondence: Paul J. Stapley,
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Walsh JA, McAndrew DJ, Henness DJ, Shemmell J, Cuicuri D, Stapley PJ. A Semi-recumbent Eccentric Cycle Ergometer Instrumented to Isolate Lower Limb Muscle Contractions to the Appropriate Phase of the Pedal Cycle. Front Physiol 2021; 12:756805. [PMID: 34912239 PMCID: PMC8667581 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.756805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Eccentric (ECC) cycling is used in rehabilitation and sports conditioning settings. We present the construction and mode of operation of a custom-built semi-recumbent ECC cycle designed to limit the production of lower limb muscle activity to the phase of the pedal cycle known to produce ECC contractions. A commercially available semi-recumbent frame and seat (Monarch, 837E Semi-recumbent Bike, Sweden) were used to assemble the ergometer. An electrical drive train system was constructed using individual direct drive servo motors. To avoid active muscle activation occurring during the non-ECC pedaling phase of cycling, a “trip” mechanism was integrated into the drivetrain system using a servo-driven regenerative braking mechanism based on the monitoring of the voltage produced over and above a predetermined threshold produced by the motors. The servo drive internal (DC bus) voltage is recorded and internally monitored during opposing (OPP) and non-opposing (N-OPP) phases of the pedal cycle. To demonstrate that the cycle functions as desired and stops or “trips” when it is supposed to, we present average (of 5 trials) muscle activation patterns of the principal lower limb muscles for regular ECC pedal cycles in comparison with one pedal cycle during which the muscles activated outside the desired phase of the cycle for a sample participant. This semi-recumbent ECC cycle ergometer has the capacity to limit the occurrence of muscle contraction only to the ECC phase of cycling. It can be used to target that mode of muscle contraction more precisely in rehabilitation or training studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel A Walsh
- Neural Control of Movement Laboratory, School of Medicine, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Darryl J McAndrew
- Neural Control of Movement Laboratory, School of Medicine, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Douglas J Henness
- Electrical Workshop, Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Jonathan Shemmell
- Neuromotor Adaptation Laboratory, School of Medicine, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Dominic Cuicuri
- Electrical Workshop, Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - Paul J Stapley
- Neural Control of Movement Laboratory, School of Medicine, Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
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