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Results for “Isometric Contraction”

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At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

PubMed1990

Spectral analysis of muscular sound during isometric contraction of biceps brachii.

The frequency content of muscular sound (MS), detected by placing a contact sensor transducer over the belly of the biceps brachii during 10 isometric contractions of 4 s each [10-100% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC)] in seven sedentary men, was analyzed by the maximum entropy spectral estimation and the fast Fourier transform methods. With increasing %MVC, the power spectrum of the MS enlarges and tends to be multimodal beyond 30% MVC. Independent of the method, the mean frequency is approximately 11 Hz at the lower tasks, and then it increases up to 15 Hz at 80% MVC and to 22 Hz at 100% MVC. When the effort is increased the relative power in the 15- to 45-Hz bandwidth (range of firing rate of the motor units with fast-twitch fibers) from 20% reaches 55% of the power in the 6- to 45-Hz bandwidth (firing rate range of motor units with slow- and fast-twitch fibers). Our results obtained by the two different modeling approaches confirm the reliability of the sound signal. Moreover, it appears that from the MS the motor unit activation pattern can be retrieved.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Tissue oxygenation by near-infrared spectroscopy and muscle blood flow during isometric contractions of the forearm.

The relationship between tissue oxygenation measured by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and forearm muscle blood flow (FBF) measured by Doppler ultrasound was tested during isometric contractions at 10 and 30% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) under conditions of normoxia and hypoxia (14% inspired O2). Six subjects maintained contractions at 10% MVC for 5 min and 30% for 2 min in both gas conditions. FBF was elevated during exercise at 10% MVC in hypoxia compared to normoxia, but there was no further increase in flow at 30% MVC. Median power frequency calculations from electromyographic recordings suggested progressive development of fatigue throughout both 10 and 30% MVC contractions. NIRS indicated no change in muscle oxygenation at 10% MVC, but deep venous blood O2 saturation was reduced in normoxia and more so in hypoxia. At 30% MVC, both NIRS and venous O2 saturation were reduced, with no effect of hypoxia on the NIRS signal. While NIRS might provide an indication of muscle oxygenation during isometric exercise, the conflicting findings for NIRS and direct venous blood sampling at 10 vs 30% MVC suggest caution in the application of this noninvasive technique.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Assessment of isometric contractions performed with maximal subjective effort: corresponding results for EEG changes and force measurements.

In order to find a parameter or parameters that can be attributed to movements performed with maximal subjective effort, EEG recordings and force measurements were taken in connection with isometric muscle contractions performed with 80% of the subjective maximal force (IMC80) or with maximal subjective effort (IMC100). Criteria based on EEG recordings and force measurements have been considered as indicators for maximal subjective effort in a given movement. The following criteria were selected: A. If the mean spectral theta amplitude across the parieto-occipital area decreases from IMC80 to IMC100 then the isometric contraction is taken to be performed with maximal effort; B. If the obtained force values can be fitted to a switch function and if the achieved forces are only a predetermined percentage lower than the maximal force value obtained over all trials then this isometric contraction is accepted to be performed with maximal effort. 18 out of 24 cases fulfill the EEG criterion whereas the criterion for force measurements is fulfilled in 16 out of 24 trials. The comparison between the results obtained by means of the EEG criterion and by means of criterion for force measurement shows that the results are in agreement in 22 out of 24 cases (p < .001). The high correspondence of the assessments allows us to suspect that both criteria specify the same phenomenon, namely the performance of a motor task with maximal subjective effort.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Increased threshold sural amplitude after upper limb isometric contraction in complete paraplegics.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the enhancement of threshold sural sensory nerve action potentials (SNAPs) occurred in patients with spinal cord injury after upper limb isometric contraction. DESIGN: This prospective study, in which ten paraplegic patients with spinal cord injury were recruited from the Harris County community and served as his/her own control, was performed in the electromyography laboratory at Harris County Hospital District Quentin Mease Hospital. The baseline SNAP was established using ten threshold, signal-averaged stimuli to the sural nerve. With the same stimulus strength, the SNAP was recorded while the subjects' arms were pulled apart against a force gauge at 50% and 100% maximum force. Responses were recorded every 4 min until the values returned to baseline. RESULTS: Results showed an increase in the SNAP amplitude after 50% and 100% maximum force. The mean preexercise SNAP amplitude was 4.0 +/- 0.6 (SE) microV. At 50% force, the SNAP amplitude was 7.57 +/- 1.2 microV; at 100% force, it was 7.29 +/- 1.2 microV. The post hoc analysis of the data revealed P = 0.009 and P = 0.01 for 50% and 100% maximum force, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The threshold SNAP of the sural nerve was enhanced after isometric exercise in paraplegic patients with spinal cord injury.

Action Potentials↗

PubMed1998

Nonisometric behavior of fascicles during isometric contractions of a human muscle.

Fascicle length, pennation angle, and tendon elongation of the human tibialis anterior were measured in vivo by ultrasonography. Subjects (n = 9) were requested to develop isometric dorsiflexion torque gradually up to maximal at the ankle joint angle of 20 degrees plantarflexion from the anatomic position. Fascicle length shortened from 90 +/- 7 to 76 +/- 7 (SE) mm, pennation angle increased from 10 +/- 1 to 12 +/- 1 degrees, and tendon elongation increased up to 15 +/- 2 mm with graded force development up to maximum. The tendon stiffness increased with increasing tendon force from 10 N/mm at 0-20 N to 32 N/mm at 240-260 N. Young's modulus increased from 157 MPa at 0-20 N to 530 MPa at 240-260 N. It can be concluded that, in isometric contractions of a human muscle, mechanical work, some of which is absorbed by the tendinous tissue, is generated by the shortening of muscle fibers and that ultrasonography can be used to determine the stiffness and Young's modulus for human tendons.

Ankle Joint↗

PubMed1989

Temperature effects on isometric contractions of slow and fast twitch muscles of various rodents--dependence on fibre type composition: a comparative study.

The influence of temperature (range 15-37 degrees C) on the isometric contractions of the slow twitch soleus (SOL) and the fast twitch extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles of mice, rats and guinea pigs were investigated in vitro. Cooling of the bathing solution prolonged the time parameters of single twitches and tetanic contractions in a non-linear manner in both muscle types of all animals. In muscles containing predominately fast twitch fibres like the EDL of all animals cooling was followed by an increase of the single twitch tension (cold potentiation) with a maximum of 160-180% at about 20 degrees C. The influence of a decrease of the temperature on the twitch tension was different in the SOL of the three animals. In SOL of mice (containing about 50% slow twitch fibres) the twitch tension was virtually unchanged, in SOL of rats (about 70% slow twitch fibres) a moderate cold depression and in SOL of guinea pigs (composed by slow twitch fibres only) a strong cold depression was observed. The maximum tetanic tension decreased progressively on cooling in all muscles and independently of their fibre type composition. Cooling increased the twitch-tetanus-ratio in fast twitch and decreased it in pure slow twitch muscles. It is concluded that the temperature dependence of the single twitch and the twitch-tetanus-ratio can be used as a physiological measure of the fibre type composition of a given muscle.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Age-related differences in corticospinal control during functional isometric contractions in left and right hands.

The purpose of the study was to examine age-related differences in electromyographic (EMG) responses to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) during functional isometric contractions in left and right hands. EMG responses were recorded from the first dorsal interosseus muscle following TMS in 10 young (26.6 +/- 1.3 yr) and 10 old (67.6 +/- 2.3 yr) right-handed subjects. Muscle evoked potentials (MEPs) and silent-period durations were obtained in the left and right hands during index finger abduction, a precision grip, a power grip, and a scissor grip, while EMG was held constant at 5% of maximum. For all tasks, MEP area was 30% (P < 0.001) lower in the left hand of old compared with young subjects, whereas there was no age difference in the right hand. The duration of the EMG silent period was 14% (P < 0.001) shorter in old (150.3 +/- 2.9 ms) compared with young (173.9 +/- 3.0 ms) subjects, and the age differences were accentuated in the left hand (19% shorter, P < 0.001). For all subjects, the largest MEP area (10-12% larger) and longest EMG silent period (8-19 ms longer) were observed for the scissor grip compared with the other three tasks, and the largest task-dependent change in these variables was observed in the right hand of older adults. These differences in corticospinal control in the left and right hands of older adults may reflect neural adaptations that occur throughout a lifetime of preferential hand use for skilled (dominant) and unskilled (nondominant) motor tasks.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Repeatability of maximal voluntary force and of surface EMG variables during voluntary isometric contraction of quadriceps muscles in healthy subjects.

The repeatability of initial values and rate of change of EMG signal mean spectral frequency (MNF), average rectified values (ARV), muscle fiber conduction velocity (CV) and maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) was investigated in the vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles of both legs of nine healthy male subjects during voluntary, isometric contractions sustained for 50 s at 50% MVC. The values of MVC were recorded for both legs three times on each day and for three subsequent days, while the EMG signals have been recorded twice a day for three subsequent days. The degree of repeatability was investigated using the Fisher test based upon the ANalysis Of VAriance (ANOVA), the Standard Error of the Mean (SEM) and the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). Data collected showed a high level of repeatability of MVC measurement (normalized SEM from 1.1% to 6.4% of the mean). MNF and ARV initial values also showed a high level of repeatability (ICC>70% for all muscles and legs except right VMO). At 50% MVC level no relevant pattern of fatigue was observed for the VMO and VL muscles, suggesting that other portions of the quadriceps might have contributed to the generated effort. These observations seem to suggest that in the investigation of muscles belonging to a multi-muscular group at submaximal level, the more selective electrically elicited contractions should be preferred to voluntary contractions.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Temperature dependence of the heat of activation in a single isometric contraction of the rat diaphragm. The effect of extra- and intracellular temperature].

Using a myothermometric method it was found that at 27 degrees and 37 degrees C the activation heat (Qa) of a single isometric contraction of the Wistar's rats isolated diaphragm averages 0.26 +/- 0.02 mcal/g and 0.60 +/- 0.13 mcal/g, accordingly, and Q10 = 2.3. It has been proved that the value of Qa depends on the gradient of intracellular temperature decrease (delta T, r = 0.89, p less than or equal to 0.01) as Qa = 1.68 delta T + 1.30 under 0.01 less than or equal to delta T less than or equal to 1.0. It was concluded that high significance of Qa for the muscles of warm-blooded points to the damaged energetics of the contraction recovery period and delta T is an intracellular informative signal which always determines the value of Qa via the feedback mechanism.

Animals↗

PubMed1979

[Respiration during isometric contraction of the flexor or extensor muscles of the arm in humans].

An increase in the instantaneous pulmonary flow and a decrease in the respiratory frequency has been found in man as a consequence of isometric contraction of either flexor or extensor muscles of the elbow. The delay of 200 to 900msec between the onset of the muscle contraction and the beginning of the flow increment suggests that the respiratory system increases its activity due to the proprioreceptor activation. As there is no significant difference in the results obtained during flexor or extensor contraction, the contribution of the two different receptor groups appears to be the same.

Adult↗

PubMed1983

Determination of the contractility of children's bladders from isometric contractions.

A new method of determining the contractility of the urinary bladder was applied to children. The method consists in the calculation of the force-velocity relation of the detrusor muscle from isometric contractions. These were measured by urodynamic equipment connected to a remote computer via a telephone line. The resulting force and velocity parameters are satisfactorily reproducible. The velocity parameter is comparable to that given by the stop test, a more direct but in practice more complicated method of assessing contractility. We found that boys' bladders can generate more force and higher contraction velocities than girls', and confirmed that obstructed bladders can generate more force than unobstructed ones. Some differences in the parameters found in enuretic children, and between stable and unstable bladders, are also discussed.

Child↗

PubMed1993

Maximal oxygen uptake, maximal voluntary isometric contraction and physical activity in young Danish adults.

In a randomly selected sample of 88 men and 115 women, aged 23-27 years from Denmark, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVC) in four muscle groups and physical activity were studied. The VO2max was 48.0 ml.min-1.kg-1 and 39.6 ml.min-1.kg-1 for the men and the women, respectively. The MVC was 10% lower than in a comparable group of Danes of the same age and height studied 35 years ago. Only in men was sports activity directly related to VO2max (ml.min-1.kg-1; r = 0.31, P < 0.01). The MVC of the knee extensors was related to VO2max in the men (r = 0.31, P < 0.01), but there was no relationship between the other measurements of MVC and VO2max. In the women VO2max (ml.min-1.kg-1) was only related to body size, i.e. body mass index, percentage body fat and body mass [(r = -0.47, -0.48 (both P < 0.001) and -0.34 (P < 0.01), respectively)]. There were differences in VO2max in the men, according to education and occupation. Blue collar workers and subjects attending vocational or trade schools in 1983 had lower VO2max, and more of them were physically inactive. In the women differences were also found, but there was no clear pattern among the groups. More of the women participated regularly in sports activity, but more of the men were very active compared to the women.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Electrocorticogram-electromyogram coherence during isometric contraction of hand muscle in human.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify how the primary sensorimotor and supplementary motor areas are involved in the generation of the rhythmicity of electromyogram (EMG) activity during continuous muscle contraction. METHOD: We analyzed the coherence between subdurally recorded cortical electroencephalograms (EEG) and EMGs of the contralateral wrist extensor muscle during continuous isometric contraction in 8 patients with medically intractable epilepsy. RESULTS: In all subjects, a significant coherence between the primary motor area (M1) and EMG was observed at the peak frequency of 15+/-3 Hz (means+/-SD). In the primary somatosensory area (S1) of 7 subjects and the supplementary motor area proper (SMA proper) of 4 subjects, significant coherence with EMG was observed at 12+/-5 and 15+/-4 Hz, respectively. The time lags revealed by cross-correlogram were 10+/-3, 7+/-1 and 22+/-8 ms in the M1, S1 and SMA proper, respectively, with the EMG lagging in all areas. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the rhythmic activity in the SMA proper, as well as in the S1 and M1, is related to the generation of the rhythmicity of EMG activity.

Electromyography↗

PubMed1995

Cardiac responses to maximal anisotonic isometric contractions during handgrip and leg extension.

A group of 14-healthy men performed anisotonic isometric contractions (AIC), for 60 s, at an intensity of 100% maximal voluntary contraction force (MVC) during handgrip (HG) and leg extension (LE). Heart rate (fc), stroke volume index (SVI) and cardiac output index (QcI) were measured during the last 10 s of both AIC by an impedance reography method. Force (F) exerted by the subjects was recorded continuously and reported as a relative force (Fr) (% MVC). The F generated during MVC was greater for LE than for HG (502.1 N compared to 374.6 N, P < 0.001). The rate of decrease in Fr was significantly slower for LE than HG for the first 25 s of the exercise (phase 1 of AIC). The Fr developed by the subjects at the end of AIC was 40% MVC for both LE and HG. The increase in fc was greater for LE (63 beats.min-1) than for HG (52 beats.min-1), P < 0.01. The SVI decreased significantly from the resting level by 17.0 ml.m-2 and by 18.2 ml.m-2 for LE and HG, respectively. The QcI increased insignificantly for HG by 0.09 l.min-1.m-2 and significantly for LE by 0.56 l.min-1.m-2 (P < 0.001). It was concluded that although both AIC caused a significant decrease in SVI, greater increases in fc and Qc were observed for LE than for HG. The greater fc and Qc reported during LE was probably related to the greater relative force exerted by LE during phase 1 of AIC. It seems, therefore that central command might have dominated for phase 1 of AIC but that the muscle reflex also contributed significantly to the control of the cardiac response to the high intensity AIC.

Adult↗

PubMed1975

Myocardial sarcomere dynamics during isometric contraction.

1. Sarcomere lengths were measured during rest and throughout the time course of isometric contractions in thin, isolated rat papillary muscles using light diffraction techniques. 2. Shortening of the sarcomere length occurred upon contraction at all muscle lengths, averaging 7% at optimal length and more at shorter lengths. Relative to the narrow range of sarcomere lengths spanning the length--tension curve, this degree of shortening was considerable. 3. Local changes of sarcomere length were quantitatively paralleled by local changes of tissue segment length, the latter demarcated by microspheres lodged within the muscle tissue. At all but the shortest muscle lengths, sarcomere shortening was fully accounted for by equivalent lengthening of the non-striated regions near the clamped ends of the preparation. 4. It seems likely that these regions near the clamped ends of the preparation. 4. It seems constitute the source of the large series elasticity characteristic of isolated papillary muscle preparations such as this.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Firing rate modulation of human motor units in different muscles during isometric contraction with various forces.

To examine the factors affecting the control of human motor units, rate coding strategies of the motor units were investigated in upper limb and intrinsic hand muscles during voluntary isometric contraction of steady force levels up to 80% of maximal voluntary contraction. Numerous spike trains from single motor units were recorded from the m. first dorsal interosseous (FDI) and the m. biceps brachii (BB) of eight human subjects by means of tungsten micro-electrodes, and the mean firing rate (MFR) was calculated for each subject and inter-individual comparisons made. The MFRs of the FDI were larger than that of the BB at the higher force level, and substantial differences were not found between these muscles at the lower force level. The slope of the linear regression line of MFRs vs. exerted forces for the FDI was more than twice that for the BB. Therefore, isometric force control of the FDI depends more on the rate coding strategy. The difference in rate coding between the FDI and BB motor units may be determined by factors other than muscle fiber composition, because both muscles are known to possess a similar composition of fiber types. Possible mechanisms underlying these characteristics of rate coding strategy are considered in this report.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Synergists activation pattern of the quadriceps muscle differs when performing sustained isometric contractions with different EMG biofeedback.

The aims of the present study were to examine (1) endurance time and (2) activation pattern of vastus lateralis (VL), vastus medialis (VM) and rectus femoris (RF) muscles during fatiguing isometric knee extensions performed with different EMG biofeedbacks. Thirteen men (27 +/- 5 year) volunteered to participate in three experimental sessions. Each session involved a submaximal isometric contraction held until failure at an EMG level corresponding to 40% maximal voluntary contraction torque (MVC), with visual EMG biofeedback provided for either (1) RF muscle (RF task), (2) VL and VM muscles (Vasti task) or (3) the sum of the VL, VM and RF muscles (Quadriceps task). EMG activity of VL, VM and RF muscles was recorded during each of the three tasks and further analyzed. Time to task failures and MVC loss (P < 0.001) after exercises were similar (P > 0.05) between the three sessions (182 s and approximately 28%, respectively) (P > 0.05). Moreover, the magnitude of central and peripheral fatigue was not different at failure of the three tasks. Activation pattern was similar for knee extensors at the beginning of each task (P > 0.05). However, RF EMG activity decreased (P < 0.05) during the Vasti and the Quadriceps tasks (from approximately 33 to approximately 25% maximal EMG), whereas vasti EMG activity remained constant during the RF task ( approximately 41% maximal EMG). These findings suggest that (1) task failure occurs when sustaining a submaximal level of EMG activity for as long as possible and (2) CNS is not able to differentiate descending drive to the different heads of the quadriceps at the beginning of a sustained contraction, despite a different activation pattern for the bi-articular RF muscle compared to the mono-articular vasti muscles during fatigue.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Theta power decreases in preparation for voluntary isometric contractions performed with maximal subjective effort.

In order to find EEG parameters that can be attributed to movements performed with maximal subjective effort, EEG recordings and force measurements were realized in connection with isometric contractions (IMC). IMC were performed with submaximal and maximal subjective effort. Mean spectral power density within the theta band was found as an indicator for maximal subjective effort. The theta power across the parieto-occipital area decreases from rest through movements performed with submaximal force to movements performed with maximal effort. It is argued that this theta decrease possibly reflects a down-regulation of the posterior attention system in order to minimize the influences of external stimuli during the preparation for voluntary IMC performed with maximal subjective effort.

Adult↗