Motor Unit Discharge Characteristics and Conduction Velocity of the Vastii Muscles in Long-Term Resistance-Trained Men

Škarabot J, Folland JP, Forsyth J, Vazoukis A, Holobar A, Del Vecchio A (2023)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2023

Journal

Medicine and science in sports and exercise American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)

Book Volume: 55

Pages Range: 824-836

Journal Issue: 5

DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003105

Abstract

PURPOSE: Adjustments in motor unit (MU) discharge properties have been shown after short-term resistance training; however, MU adaptations in long-term resistance-trained (RT) individuals are less clear. Here, we concurrently assessed MU discharge characteristics and MU conduction velocity in long-term RT and untrained (UT) men. METHODS: Motor unit discharge characteristics (discharge rate, recruitment, and derecruitment threshold) and MU conduction velocity were assessed after the decomposition of high-density electromyograms recorded from vastus lateralis (VL) and vastus medialis (VM) of RT (>3 yr; n = 14) and UT ( n = 13) during submaximal and maximal isometric knee extension. RESULTS: Resistance-trained men were on average 42% stronger (maximal voluntary force [MVF], 976.7 ± 85.4 N vs 685.5 ± 123.1 N; P < 0.0001), but exhibited similar relative MU recruitment (VL, 21.3% ± 4.3% vs 21.0% ± 2.3% MVF; VM, 24.5% ± 4.2% vs 22.7% ± 5.3% MVF) and derecruitment thresholds (VL, 20.3% ± 4.3% vs 19.8% ± 2.9% MVF; VM, 24.2% ± 4.8% vs 22.9% ± 3.7% MVF; P ≥ 0.4543). There were also no differences between groups in MU discharge rate at recruitment and derecruitment or at the plateau phase of submaximal contractions (VL, 10.6 ± 1.2 pps vs 10.3 ± 1.5 pps; VM, 10.7 ± 1.6 pps vs 10.8 ± 1.7 pps; P ≥ 0.3028). During maximal contractions of a subsample population (10 RT, 9 UT), MU discharge rate was also similar in RT compared with UT (VL, 21.1 ± 4.1 pps vs 14.0 ± 4.5 pps; VM, 19.5 ± 5.0 pps vs 17.0 ± 6.3 pps; P = 0.7173). Motor unit conduction velocity was greater in RT compared with UT individuals in both VL (4.9 ± 0.5 m·s -1 vs 4.5 ± 0.3 m·s -1 ; P < 0.0013) and VM (4.8 ± 0.5 m·s -1 vs 4.4 ± 0.3 m·s -1 ; P < 0.0073). CONCLUSIONS: Resistance-trained and UT men display similar MU discharge characteristics in the knee extensor muscles during maximal and submaximal contractions. The between-group strength difference is likely explained by superior muscle morphology of RT as suggested by greater MU conduction velocity.

Authors with CRIS profile

Alessandro Del Vecchio Juniorprofessur für Neuromuscular Physiology and Neural Interfacing

Involved external institutions

Loughborough University GB United Kingdom (GB) University of Maribor (UM) / Univerza v Mariboru SI Slovenia (SI)

How to cite

APA:

Škarabot, J., Folland, J.P., Forsyth, J., Vazoukis, A., Holobar, A., & Del Vecchio, A. (2023). Motor Unit Discharge Characteristics and Conduction Velocity of the Vastii Muscles in Long-Term Resistance-Trained Men. Medicine and science in sports and exercise , 55(5), 824-836. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000003105

MLA:

Škarabot, Jakob, et al. "Motor Unit Discharge Characteristics and Conduction Velocity of the Vastii Muscles in Long-Term Resistance-Trained Men." Medicine and science in sports and exercise 55.5 (2023): 824-836.

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