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PubMed2003

Taiji training improves knee extensor strength and force control in older adults.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Taiji training on knee extensor strength and force control in older individuals. Twenty-six healthy older adults (71.9 +/- 1.8 years) participated in the study. Sixteen of the older adults (70.2 +/- 1.8 years) underwent Taiji training for 20 weeks (experimental group), whereas the other 10 (74.6 +/- 1.2 years) served as the control group. For both groups, strength and force control of the knee extensors was assessed twice with an isokinetic dynamometer. Strength was assessed with a maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVC). Force control was measured as the standard deviation (SD) and coefficient of variation (CV) of force during a constant isometric knee extension task at 2%, 30%, 60%, and 90% MVC. For the experimental group, MVC significantly increased (19.5 +/- 4.9%) and the CV of force decreased (18.9 +/- 3.3%) following Taiji training. Improvements in the CV of force were primarily due to decreases in the SD of force (R(2) =.86) rather than increases in strength (R(2) =.12). Furthermore, decreases in SD of force were independent of improvements in strength. For the control group, strength, SD, and CV of force were not different for the 2 tests. The overall findings suggest that Taiji training improves knee extensor strength and force control in older adults.

Aged↗

PubMed1983

Muscular strength development by electrical stimulation in healthy individuals.

The effects of electrical stimulation and its comparison with various resistance training modes were investigated in 34 subjects who trained their dominant leg isometrically three times a week for five weeks. Group E (n = 8) used maximum voluntary isometric contractions only, Group S (n = 8) received only electrical stimulation, and Group ES (n = 9) trained using a concurrent combination of isometric exercise and electrical stimulation. In addition, Group C (n = 9), a control group, did no experimental training. The expected gain in torque was shown in the isometric strength scores of the three experimental groups; however, there was little change in the isometric strength of the control group and in the isokinetic (100, 200, and 300 degrees/sec) results of any of the four groups. After adjustments were made for pretest strength results, a one-way analysis of covariance indicated that the posttest isometric strength scores of the three experimental groups differed significantly from those of the control group. No other posttest differences were found among any of the other training modes.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1990

Acute inhibition of respiratory capacity of muscle reduces peak oxygen consumption.

Electron transport capacity of skeletal muscle was inhibited in situ in an acute dose-dependent manner with myxothiazol, a tight-binding inhibitor of ubiquinone-cytochrome c reductase, complex III of the respiratory chain. Peak oxygen consumption of rat hindlimb muscle was determined via consecutive 10-min isometric contraction (100 ms at 100 Hz) periods of increasing energy demands (4, 8, 15, 30, 45, and 60 tetani/min), using an isolated hindlimb preparation perfused with a high oxygen delivery (approximately 6-8 mumol.min-1.g-1). Peak oxygen consumption decreased from 4.61 +/- 0.19 mumol.min-1.g-1 (control) in a dose-dependent manner to 0.73 +/- 0.07 mumol.min-1.g-1 at 0.50 microM myxothiazol in blood. Oxygen extraction decreased from 65 to 12% of delivered oxygen. Furthermore, the reduction in peak respiratory rate became evident at lower energy demands of the contraction sequence. Myxothiazol inhibition of respiration was not dependent on the presence of muscle contractions but was evident when mitochondria were uncoupled with carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone. A 50% effective dosage (ED50) of 0.21 microM myxothiazol for inhibition of peak oxygen consumption closely resembled the inhibition of NADH-cytochrome c reductase activity (ED50 of 0.27 microM) determined from homogenates of the same muscles. This suggests that the peak oxygen consumption of skeletal muscle is tightly coupled to the capacity for electron transport evaluated by flux through NADH-cytochrome c reductase. If the enzyme activity measured in vitro correctly represents available enzymatic capacity within contracting muscle, approximately 75% of electron transport capacity for handling reducing equivalents generated from NADH is utilized during peak oxygen consumption of rat hindlimb muscle contracting in situ.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Spectral analysis of the electromyograph of the erector spinae muscle before and after a dynamic manual load-lifting test.

The aim of the present study was to assess the spectral behavior of the erector spinae muscle during isometric contractions performed before and after a dynamic manual load-lifting test carried out by the trunk in order to determine the capacity of muscle to perform this task. Nine healthy female students participated in the experiment. Their average age, height, and body mass (+/- SD) were 20 +/- 1 years, 1.6 +/- 0.03 m, and 53 +/- 4 kg, respectively. The development of muscle fatigue was assessed by spectral analysis (median frequency) and root mean square with time. The test consisted of repeated bending movements from the trunk, starting from a 45 masculine angle of flexion, with the application of approximately 15, 25 and 50% of maximum individual load, to the stand up position. The protocol used proved to be more reliable with loads exceeding 50% of the maximum for the identification of muscle fatigue by electromyography as a function of time. Most of the volunteers showed an increase in root mean square versus time on both the right (N = 7) and the left (N = 6) side, indicating a tendency to become fatigued. With respect to the changes in median frequency of the electromyographic signal, the loads used in this study had no significant effect on either the right or the left side of the erector spinae muscle at this frequency, suggesting that a higher amount and percentage of loads would produce more substantial results in the study of isotonic contractions.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Viscous properties of human muscle during contraction.

The purpose of this study was to determine viscous properties of human muscle during plantarflexion efforts. Experiments were performed on 17 subjects with an ankle ergometer allowing sinusoidal oscillations during isometric contractions and isokinetic movements. Sinusoidal oscillations led to the expression of (i) Bode diagrams of the musculo-articular system allowing the determination of a damping coefficient (Bbode); and (ii) a viscous coefficient (Bsin) using an adaptation of Hill's equation to sinusoidal oscillations. Isokinetic movements led to torque-velocity relationships. They showed a fall in torque associated to an increase in angular velocity what was quantified by calculating a damping coefficient (Biso). Both experiments gave consistent results indicating that Bbode was the lowest viscous parameter. This difference is discussed in terms of (i) "analog" viscosity originating from muscle cross-bridges; and (ii) real mechanical damping of passive structures.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

Fatigue of mouse diaphragm muscle in isometric and isotonic contractions.

Fatiguabilities of mouse diaphragm muscle in vitro in isometric and isotonic contractions were compared in this study. Isolated mouse diaphragm muscle was stimulated repetitively to induce fatigue during both isometric and isotonic contractions. The supramaximal electrical stimulation used was a train of 100-Hz, 0.5-ms pulses delivered to the muscle every 2 s for 0.5 s. The percentage decrease in isometric tension from beginning to end of the fatiguing process was used as the index of fatigue. The experiments were carried out at different PO2 levels in both normal and zero-glucose Ringer solutions. It was found that fatigue developed more rapidly in isotonic contractions than in isometric ones. Also, the extracellular glucose level demonstrated little effect on the muscle's short-term fatiguability, whereas reductions in the extracellular PO2 exerted a profound effect, especially in the case of isotonic fatigue.

Aerobiosis↗

PubMed1995

Increased resting discharge of human spindle afferents following voluntary contractions.

1. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of lasting alterations in discharge rate of muscle spindle afferents innervating human ankle and toe dorsiflexor muscles following isometric contractions. 2. The subjects performed controlled isometric ankle dorsiflexions maintained for approximately 5 s. During the contraction the discharge of all but one spindle afferent increased above the precontraction level. After complete relaxation, there was prolonged enhancement of the discharge rate of nineteen of fifty-five muscle spindle afferents and none of three Golgi tendon organ afferents. Ten of the nineteen spindle afferents had been silent prior to the contraction. For the population of fifty-five spindle afferents, the mean 'postcontraction' discharge rate was 65% higher than the mean precontraction discharge rate, with the mean rate increasing from 2.3 to 3.9 Hz (P < 0.001). The mean duration of the enhanced postcontraction discharge was 52 s (range, 8-240 s). 3. Stretch applied to the tendon of the receptor-bearing muscle in twelve of fourteen spindle afferents with an enhanced postcontraction discharge rate eliminated or reduced the enhanced discharge rate. 4. The high incidence of an enhanced spindle discharge after voluntary contraction (35% of spindle afferents) suggests that muscle 'history' should be taken into account when interpreting changes in spindle discharge rates. The enhanced discharge rates following contraction probably reflect a long-lasting effect of the contraction-associated increase in fusimotor drive on intrafusal stiffness, rather than the persistence of fusimotor drive following relaxation.

Adult↗

PubMed1962

Water loss during contracture of muscle.

The relationship of contracture and exudation of water in frozenthawed frog muscle was studied. With maximum shortening, there was a water loss of 35 per cent of the weight of muscle. By restricting the contraction, it was demonstrated that the amount of water loss was proportional to the degree of shortening, there being no significant loss with isometric contraction. Muscle already shortened by tetanic stimulation also exuded water on subsequent freezing and thawing. The force of contraction could be reduced by depleting the muscle of calcium and it was shown that the amount of water exuded was also proportional to the tensile ability of the muscle. In a smooth muscle (anterior byssus retractor of Mytilus) which did not contract vigorously only a little water exuded. Contracture produced by caffeine was similarly associated with a loss of water. Microscopic studies revealed a disruption of the sarcomeres of the frozen-thawed muscle which contracted; glycerol-extracted and calcium-depleted muscles, which did not contract on freeze-thawing, did not show such disruption. Freezing and thawing of actomyosin caused a reversible syneresis of the protein. It is concluded that the exudation of the water is not merely due to the freezing and thawing but is also dependent on the contractile events.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗

PubMed2001

Exercise induced muscle damage and recovery assessed by means of linear and non-linear sEMG analysis and ultrasonography.

This study was aimed at investigating the time-course and recovery from eccentric (EC) exercise induced muscle damage by means of surface electromyography (sEMG), ultrasonography (US), and blood enzymes. Five subjects (EC Group) performed two bouts of 35 EC maximum contractions with the biceps brachii of their non dominant arm, five subjects were tested without performing EC (Control Group: CNT). The maximal isometric force (MVC) was measured. Force and sEMG signals were recorded during 80% MVC isometric contractions. In EC and CNT subjects US assessment on non-dominant biceps brachii was performed; creatin kinase (CK) and lactic dehydrogenasis (LDH) plasma levels were also assessed. Force, sEMG and CK-LDH measurements were performed before EC and after it periodically for 4 weeks. The sEMG was analysed in time and frequency domains; a non-linear analysis (Lyapunov 1st exponent, L1) of sEMG was also performed. After EC, the MVC was reduced by 40% on average with respect to the pre-EC values. A significant decrease in the initial frequency content, and in the MDF and L1 decay (13-42% less than the pre-EC values, respectively) was also observed. The sEMG amplitude (Root Mean Square, RMS) was unchanged after EC. The US revealed an increase in muscle belly thickness and in local muscle blood flow after EC. A complete recovery of all the considered parameters was achieved in two weeks. In conclusion sEMG analysis was confirmed as an early indicator of muscle damage. Muscle recovery from damage is followed by both sEMG and US and this may have useful clinical implications. Non linear analysis (L1) was revealed to be sensitive to early sEMG modifications induced by EC as well as able to follow the post EC changes in the sEMG.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Contraction-mediated inactivation of glycogen synthase is accompanied by inactivation of glycogen synthase phosphatase in human skeletal muscle.

Activities of glycogen synthase (GS) and GS phosphatase were determined on human muscle biopsies before and after isometric contraction at 2/3 maximal voluntary force. Total GS activity did not change during contraction (4.92 +/- 0.70 at rest versus 5.00 +/- 0.42 mmol/min per kg dry wt.; mean +/- S.E.M.), whereas both the active form of GS and the ratio of active form to total GS decreased by approximately 35% (P less than 0.01). GS phosphatase was inactivated in all subjects by an average of 39%, from 5.95 +/- 1.30 to 3.63 +/- 0.97 mmol/min per kg dry wt. (P less than 0.01). It is suggested that at least part of the contraction-induced inactivation of GS is due to an inactivation of GS phosphatase.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

Motor drive and metabolic responses during repeated submaximal contractions in humans.

Contractile failure during various types of exercise has been attributed to intramuscular metabolic changes. We examined the temporal changes in force-generating capacity and metabolic state during intermittent isometric contractions in humans. One-legged quadriceps contractions at 30% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) were executed for 6 s, with 4 s of rest between. The decrease in force-generating capacity was tested from brief MVC's and short bursts of 50-Hz stimulation applied at 5-min intervals. After 1 min of exercise, the MVC force declined linearly and in parallel to the 50-Hz stimulation force, indicating that the contractile failure was due to intramuscular processes. After 30 min of exercise the MVC force had declined by approximately 40% compared with the value obtained after 1 min. In separate experiments the same contraction protocol was followed, but two-legged contractions were used. Muscle biopsies taken after 5, 15, and 30 min of exercise showed only minor changes in the concentrations of glycogen, lactate, creatine phosphate (CrP), and ATP. However, at exhaustion, defined as loss of ability to sustain the target force, the concentrations of CrP and glycogen were reduced by 73 and 32%, and muscle lactate concentration had increased to 4.8 mmol/kg wet wt. Thus the gradual decline in force-generating capacity was not due to lactacidosis or lack of substrates for ATP resynthesis and must have resulted from excitation/contraction coupling failure, whereas exhaustion was closely related to phosphagen depletion, without significant lactacidosis.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed2004

Experimental muscle pain reduces initial motor unit discharge rates during sustained submaximal contractions.

The aim of this human study was to investigate the effect of experimentally induced muscle pain on the modifications of motor unit discharge rate during sustained, constant-force contractions. Intramuscular and multichannel surface electromyographic (EMG) signals were collected from the right and left tibialis anterior muscle of 11 volunteers. The subjects performed two 4-min-long isometric contractions at 25% of the maximal dorsiflexion torque, separated by a 20-min rest. Before the beginning of the second contraction, hypertonic (painful; right leg) or isotonic (nonpainful; left leg) saline was injected into the tibialis anterior. Pain intensity scores did not change significantly in the first 150 s of the painful contraction. Exerted torque and its coefficient of variation were the same for the painful and nonpainful contractions. Motor unit discharge rate was higher in the beginning of the nonpainful contraction than the painful contraction on the right side [means +/- SE, 11.3 +/- 0.2 vs. 10.6 +/- 0.2 pulses/s (pps); P < 0.01] whereas it was the same for the two contractions on the left side (11.6 +/- 0.2 vs. 11.5 +/- 0.2 pps). The decrease in discharge rate in 4 min was smaller for the painful (0.4 +/- 0.1 pps) than for the control contractions (1.3 +/- 0.1 pps). Initial value and decrease in motor unit conduction velocity were not different in the four contractions (right leg, 4.0 +/- 0.1 m/s with decrease of 0.6 +/- 0.1 m/s in 4 min; left leg, 4.1 +/- 0.1 m/s with 0.7 +/- 0.1 m/s decrease). In conclusion, stimulation of nociceptive afferents by injection of hypertonic saline did not alter motor unit conduction velocity but reduced the initial motor unit discharge rates and the difference between initial and final discharge rates during sustained contraction.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Activation of blood platelets in response to maximal isometric exercise of the dominant arm.

Isometric exercise is a popular form of physical activity for many people. Only few studies exist on the effects of this type of exercise on the hemostatic system. Eleven male healthy subjects (21-42 years) of varying fitness levels were investigated before, immediately after and 10 min after strenuous isometric exercise of the dominant arm. Blood samples were drawn by repetitive puncture from both the exercising and the contralateral arm. The following variables were studied: Prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time as group tests for the plasmatic coagulation system; platelet count as well as p-selectin expression for the platelet system; tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) activity and antigen for the fibrinolytic system. The partial thromboplastin time was shortened immediately after maximal isometric exercise of the dominant arm, the prothrombin time remained unchanged. No change was found in the platelet count, but a marked p-selectin expression was observed immediately after maximal isometric exercise of the dominant arm (p < 0.05) and even in the resting contralateral arm. Values returned to baseline after 10 min. There was a slight increase of t-PA antigen concentration and white blood cell count at maximal isometric contraction which did not occur in the resting arm, although changes over the 3 time points were significant in both arms. Maximal isometric exercise leads to platelet activation in both arms, a slight aPTT decrease and t-PA antigen increase in local blood stream. As compensatory fibrinolytic changes do not occur, it is an open question whether isometric exercise increases the potential risk of thromboembolism.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Excitation-induced Ca2+ uptake in rat skeletal muscle.

In isolated rat extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle mounted for isometric contractions, chronic low-frequency electrical stimulation was found to lead to an increased uptake of 45Ca (154% above control after 240 min) and a progressive accumulation of Ca2+ (85% above control after 240 min). In soleus, however, this treatment led to a small, but significant, increase in 45Ca uptake (30% above control after 180 min) but no significant accumulation of Ca2+. In muscles mounted for isotonic contractions without any external load, electrical stimulation gave rise to a larger 45Ca uptake and accumulation of Ca2+ in both EDL and soleus. These uptakes of Ca2+ coincided with an accumulation of Na+. During isometric or isotonic contractions, stimulation at 40 Hz increased the initial (60 s) rate of 45Ca uptake in soleus muscle 15- and 30-fold, respectively. The stimulation-induced increase in 45Ca uptake was only reduced by 17% by the Ca2+-channel blockers nifedipine and verapamil but was blocked by tetrodotoxin. The initial rate of stimulation-induced 22Na and 45Ca uptake was correlated (r = 0.80; P < 0.003). Stimulation of Na+ channels with veratridine increased 45Ca uptake by 93 and 139% in soleus and EDL, respectively (P < 0.001), effects that were abolished by tetrodotoxin. The results indicate that in skeletal muscle, excitation induces a considerable influx of Ca2+, mediated by Na+ channels.

Animals↗

PubMed1983

The cyclic-AMP concentration in plasma and in muscle in response to exercise and beta-blockade in man.

At rest the cAMP concentration in (muscle samples of) the quadriceps femoris ranged from 1.55 to 3.00 mumol per kg dry muscle and in plasma from 15.3 to 32.3 nmol per 1. Blockade of the beta adrenoreceptors with propranolol resulted in a significant decrease in the concentration in muscle at rest, the magnitude of the fall being related to the initial level. Similarly in plasma there was a trend towards lower levels of cAMP in those with the highest pretreatment levels, but the overall change was not statistically significant. There was no relation between the concentrations in muscle and plasma, before or after beta-blockade. Maximum dynamic exercise for 4-8 min resulted in an approximate doubling in the cAMP concentration in both muscle and blood. The increase in plasma was closely related to that in muscle. Beta-blockade inhibited totally the rise in cAMP in muscle during exercise but was marginally less effective in preventing the increase in blood. No increase in plasma or muscle cAMP levels during 40-70 s isometric contraction were observed.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Influence of contraction intensity, muscle, and gender on median frequency of the quadriceps femoris.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of contraction intensity, gender, and muscle on median frequency of the three superficial portions of the quadriceps femoris muscle. Thirty healthy volunteers were assessed for isometric electromyogram activity of the vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL), and rectus femoris (RF) muscles with the knee at 60 degrees flexion. Subjects performed 5-s isometric contractions at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90% of the average of three maximal voluntary contractions. Median frequency (f(med)) of the three muscles was assessed through a power spectral analysis performed over 11 consecutive 512-ms epochs overlapping each other by one-half their length. The f(med) for each of the 11 epochs was then determined, followed by calculation of the mean and SD. The major findings of this study demonstrated that overall f(med) was significantly highest for the VL and lowest for the VM, whereas RF f(med) was between that of the other two muscles. Similar findings were observed for f(med) variability as the VL was significantly higher than the VM and RF, with no gender differences or differences between the latter two muscles. The results demonstrate that the largest change in f(med) as a function of contraction intensity occurred for the VL in men (18.6%) and women (7.6%). These findings suggest that muscle fiber-type homogeneity may exist in the VM and RF, which displayed negligible changes in f(med), whereas the VL may possess greater morphological variability.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

Properties of the inotropic response in rat papillary muscles to the dihydropyridine "Ca-channel activator" BAY K 8644.

The aim of the present study was 1) to characterize qualitatively the positive inotropic effect of the Ca-channel activator BAY K 8644 and to compare this response to response-types with known and different relationship to the cyclic AMP (cAMP) system (e.g. responses elicited through alpha- and beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation) and 2) to study the effect of simultaneous muscarinic cholinergic stimulation upon the BAY K 8644 response in order to further evaluate the role of the cAMP system in this response. The responses were evaluated in isolated, electrically paced, isometrically contracting papillary muscles from rat heart. Isometric tension (Tmax), rate of rise and decline of tension (first derivative = T') and rate of transition from tension rise to tension decline (negative part of second derivative = T") were recorded. In the presence of the alpha 1-adrenergic receptor blocker prazosin (10(-7) mol/l) and the beta-adrenergic receptor blocker timolol (10(-6) mol/l), the positive inotropic effect of 1.7 x 10(-6) mol/l BAY K 8644 developed rather slowly with a time to half maximal effect of about 4 minutes. Qualitatively the response was characterized by an almost proportional ("symmetrical") increase in all parts of the contraction-relaxation cycle with a small prolongation of time to peak tension and of the duration of the whole cycle. This response contrasted sharply with the cAMP-dependent response to beta-receptor stimulation (beta-type response with shortening of time to peak tension), but was very similar to the cAMP-independent response to alpha-receptor stimulation (alpha-type response).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethy↗

PubMed2000

Possible contribution of titin filaments to the compliant series elastic component in horseshoe crab skeletal muscle fibers.

In horseshoe crab skeletal muscle fibers, the extension of SEC at the maximum isometric force P0 is about 6% of the slack fiber length L0 (sarcomere length, 7 microns), i.e., about 210 nm per half-sarcomere, being too large to be explained by the cross-bridge and the thin filament elasticities. Cinematographic studies of isometrically contracting myofibril bundes indicate that the highly compliant SEC mostly originates from the "elastic" thick filament misalignment in each A-band during isometric force generation. Possible contribution of the titin filaments to the "elastic" thick filament misalignment is discussed.

Animals↗