Neuromuscular adaptations induced by low load resistance training method with skin cooling

Abstract

Loss of muscle strength is not only associated with loss of muscle mass, but also affected by neural factors. It is well known that facilitatory and inhibitory responses of spinal motor neurons occur with cutaneous stimulation via spinal interneurons. The purpose of this study was to examine the neural adaptations associated with low load resistance training utilizing skin cooling (SC). 10 men trained both legs and each side was randomly assigned to SC training (SC-T) and non SC training (NSC-T). Subjects performed 30 isometric ankle dorsiflexion repetitions at 35% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) 3 times weekly for 6 weeks. The skin cooling condition was defined as when skin temperature was 25°C while repetitive resistance training was being performed. Dorsiflexor MVC significantly increased in both SC-T (n = 9) and NSC-T (n = 9) by 12.8 and 3.8%, respectively. A significant increase in root mean square of EMG (rmsEMG) was observed for 30 isometric ankle dorsiflexion repetitions in SC-T both pre-and post-training. Lower leg girths did not significantly increase post-training. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that muscle strength might increase via changes in neural activation and that SC-T may lead to greater increases in muscle strength compared with NSC-T because of improved muscle activation during resistance training with SC. Therefore, we suggest that low load resistance training with SC is an effective method to increase muscle strength.

Menthol-induced cutaneous stimulation combined with self-paced walking training improves knee extension performance in untrained older healthy females

“…Previous studies have shown that low-intensity exercises with skin cooling (i.e. 35% maximal voluntary contraction) may increase muscle strength 9) . Cutaneous stimulation with skin cooling has also been shown to modulate polysynaptic neural pathways, and a neural connection between skin cold receptors (transient receptor potential melastatin 8: TRPM8) and the motor neuron pool has been observed [10][11][12] .…”

Effect of Local Cooling and Blood Flow Restriction on Muscle Weakness and Atrophy Caused by Detraining

“…Cooling is a simple treatment that can be performed and continued even after an injury. Recently, it has been reported that a combination of training and cooling increased muscle strength enhancement 4) and that continuous daily exposure to a cold environment for a short period inhibited muscle atrophy in microgravity 5) . Moreover, another study found that exposure to a cold environment activated the proteins involved in muscle atrophy 6) .…”