Behavior of motor units during submaximal isometric contractions in chronically strength-trained individuals

Casolo A, Del Vecchio A, Balshaw TG, Maeo S, Lanza MB, Felici F, Folland JP, Farina D (2021)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

Journal of Applied Physiology American Physiological Society

Book Volume: 131

Pages Range: 1584-1598

Journal Issue: 5

DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00192.2021

Abstract

Neural and morphological adaptations combine to underpin the enhanced muscle strength following prolonged exposure to strength training, although their relative importance remains unclear. We investigated the contribution of motor unit (MU) behavior and muscle size to submaximal force production in chronically strength-trained athletes (ST) versus untrained controls (UT). Sixteen ST (age: 22.9 +/- 3.5 yr; training experience: 5.9 +/- 3.5 yr) and 14 UT (age: 20.4 +/- 2.3 yr) performed maximal voluntary isometric force (MViF) and ramp contractions (at 15%, 35%, 50%, and 70% MViF) with elbow flexors, whilst high-density surface electromyography (HDsEMG) was recorded from the biceps brachii (BB). Recruitment thresholds (RTs) and discharge rates (DRs) of MUs identified from the submaximal contractions were assessed. The neural drive-to-muscle gain was estimated from the relation between changes in force (Delta FORCE, i.e. muscle output) relative to changes in MU DR (DDR, i.e. neural input). BB maximum anatomical cross-sectional area (ACSA(MAX)) was also assessed by MRI. MViF (+64.8% vs. UT, P < 0.001) and BB ACSA(MAX) (+71.9%, P < 0.001) were higher in ST. Absolute MU RT was higher in ST (+62.6%, P < 0.001), but occurred at similar normalized forces. MU DR did not differ between groups at the same normalized forces. The absolute slope of the Delta FORCE - Delta DR relationship was higher in ST (+66.9%, P = 0.002), whereas it did not differ for normalized values. We observed similar MU behavior between ST athletes and UT controls. The greater absolute force-generating capacity of ST for the same neural input demonstrates that morphological, rather than neural, factors are the predominant mechanism for their enhanced force generation during submaximal efforts.

Authors with CRIS profile

Alessandro Del Vecchio Juniorprofessur für Neuromuscular Physiology and Neural Interfacing

Involved external institutions

Imperial College London / The Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine GB United Kingdom (GB) Loughborough University GB United Kingdom (GB) Università degli Studi di Roma "Foro Italico" IT Italy (IT)

How to cite

APA:

Casolo, A., Del Vecchio, A., Balshaw, T.G., Maeo, S., Lanza, M.B., Felici, F.,... Farina, D. (2021). Behavior of motor units during submaximal isometric contractions in chronically strength-trained individuals. Journal of Applied Physiology, 131(5), 1584-1598. https://dx.doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00192.2021

MLA:

Casolo, Andrea, et al. "Behavior of motor units during submaximal isometric contractions in chronically strength-trained individuals." Journal of Applied Physiology 131.5 (2021): 1584-1598.

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