TY - JOUR
T1 - Alteration in neuromuscular function after a 5 km running time trial
AU - Girard, O.
AU - Millet, G. P.
AU - Micallef, J. P.
AU - Racinais, S.
PY - 2012/6/1
Y1 - 2012/6/1
N2 - The aim of this study was to characterize the effect of a 5 km running time trial on the neuromuscular properties of the plantar flexors. Eleven well-trained triathletes performed a series of neuromuscular tests before and immediately after the run on a 200 m indoor track. Muscle activation (twitch interpolation) and normalized EMG activity were assessed during maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of plantar flexors. Maximal soleus H-reflexes and M-waves were evoked at rest (i.e. HMAX and MMAX, respectively) and during MVC (i.e. HSUP and MSUP, respectively). MVC significantly declined (-27%; P<0.001) after the run, due to decrease in muscle activation (-8%; P<0.05) and MMAX-normalized EMG activity (-13%; P<0.05). Significant reductions in M-wave amplitudes (MMAX: -13% and MSUP: -16%; P\0.05) as well as H MAX/MMAX (-37%; P<0.01) and HSUP/M SUP (-25%; P<0.05) ratios occurred with fatigue. Following exercise, the single twitch was characterized by lower peak torque (-16%; P<0.001) as well as shorter contraction (-19%; P<0.001) and half-relaxation (-24%; P<0.001) times. In conclusion, the reduction in plantar flexors strength induced by a 5 km running time trial is caused by peripheral adjustments, which are attributable to a failure of the neuromuscular transmission and excitation-contraction coupling. Fatigue also decreased the magnitude of efferent motor outflow from spinal motor neurons to the plantar flexors and part of this suboptimal neural drive is the result of an inhibition of soleus motoneuron pool reflex excitability.
AB - The aim of this study was to characterize the effect of a 5 km running time trial on the neuromuscular properties of the plantar flexors. Eleven well-trained triathletes performed a series of neuromuscular tests before and immediately after the run on a 200 m indoor track. Muscle activation (twitch interpolation) and normalized EMG activity were assessed during maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of plantar flexors. Maximal soleus H-reflexes and M-waves were evoked at rest (i.e. HMAX and MMAX, respectively) and during MVC (i.e. HSUP and MSUP, respectively). MVC significantly declined (-27%; P<0.001) after the run, due to decrease in muscle activation (-8%; P<0.05) and MMAX-normalized EMG activity (-13%; P<0.05). Significant reductions in M-wave amplitudes (MMAX: -13% and MSUP: -16%; P\0.05) as well as H MAX/MMAX (-37%; P<0.01) and HSUP/M SUP (-25%; P<0.05) ratios occurred with fatigue. Following exercise, the single twitch was characterized by lower peak torque (-16%; P<0.001) as well as shorter contraction (-19%; P<0.001) and half-relaxation (-24%; P<0.001) times. In conclusion, the reduction in plantar flexors strength induced by a 5 km running time trial is caused by peripheral adjustments, which are attributable to a failure of the neuromuscular transmission and excitation-contraction coupling. Fatigue also decreased the magnitude of efferent motor outflow from spinal motor neurons to the plantar flexors and part of this suboptimal neural drive is the result of an inhibition of soleus motoneuron pool reflex excitability.
KW - Contractile properties
KW - H-reflex
KW - Middle-distance events
KW - Neuromuscular fatigue
KW - Plantar flexion
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84861531530&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00421-011-2205-8
DO - 10.1007/s00421-011-2205-8
M3 - Article
C2 - 22012541
AN - SCOPUS:84861531530
SN - 1439-6319
VL - 112
SP - 2323
EP - 2330
JO - European Journal of Applied Physiology
JF - European Journal of Applied Physiology
IS - 6
ER -
