Evidence for intermuscle difference in postactivation potentiation in the human triceps surae: A mechanomyographic study

Abstract

This study compared the postactivation potentiation of the medial gastrocnemius (MG) and soleus muscles by using mechanomyography (MMG). Twitch responses were evoked by stimulating the posterior tibial nerve with supramaximal intensity before and after a 10-s maximal voluntary plantar flexion, and potentiation of each muscle was evaluated by peak-to-peak amplitude of the MMG signal. The MG showed greater potentiation than the soleus, reflecting the reported fiber type composition of these muscles. This result points to the possibility that one can delineate contrasting responses of synergist muscles to postactivation potentiation by this method. Muscle Nerve 39: 703-706, 2009.

Twitch potentiation induced by stimulated and voluntary isometric contractions at various torque levels in human knee extensor muscles

“…On the other hand, the size principle is not followed with percutaneous electrical stimulation, and fast‐twitch muscle fibers (MUs) are activated even at relatively low intensities 8–10, 14. It was reported that TP is much more prominent in muscles with a predominance of fast‐twitch fibers in mammals16 and in humans 1, 2, 17. Therefore, it is likely that the number of fast MUs recruited was larger during stimulated than during voluntary conditioning contractions at low contraction levels, leading to a greater extent of TP.…”

“…The joint torque induced by a twitch contraction is increased after brief voluntary1–3 and evoked contractions 4, 5. This phenomenon is collectively referred to as twitch potentiation (TP).…”

Novel insights into skeletal muscle function by mechanomyography: from the laboratory to the field

“…With these characteristics, MMG permitted to study the adaptations of neuromuscular activation strategies induced by several conditions, such as climbing [49] or resistance and aerobic training [55]. Also different physiological models, such as potentiation [56], muscle pain [57], hypoxia [58], hypothermia [59], muscle relaxation [60,61], while overimposing an electrical twitch stimulation during maximum voluntary contraction [62], or during spinal anaesthesia [63] could be also investigated.…”

Effect of pressure intensity of graduated elastic compression stocking on muscle fatigue following calf-raise exercise

“…Stimulus intensity was determined prior to the experiment by increasing the voltage until the M-wave amplitude and the corresponding twitch torque reached a plateau at the neutral position of the ankle joint (the sole of the foot at right angles to the tibia axis). Supramaximal stimulus intensity was then set at 20% above the maximum for the experimental measures to ensure maximal muscle activation (Cresswell et al, 1995;Miyamoto et al, 2009). …”