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Achilles tendon vibration-induced changes in plantar flexor corticospinal excitability

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Abstract

Daily Achilles tendon vibration has been shown to increase muscle force, likely via corticospinal neural adaptations. The aim of the present study was to determine the extent by which corticospinal excitability is influenced during direct Achilles tendon vibration. Motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) were elicited in the soleus (SOL), gastrocnemius medialis (GM) and tibialis anterior (TA) by transcranial magnetic stimulation of the motor cortical area of the leg with and without Achilles tendon vibration at various frequencies (50, 80 and 110 Hz). Contralateral homologues were also investigated. SOL and GM MEP amplitude significantly increased by 226 ± 188 and 66 ± 39 %, respectively, during Achilles tendon vibration, without any difference between the tested frequencies. No MEP changes were reported for TA or contralateral homologues. Increased SOL and GM MEP amplitude suggests increased vibration-induced corticospinal excitability independent of vibration frequency.

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Abbreviations

GM:

Gastrocnemius medialis

MEP:

Motor-evoked potential

rMT:

Resting motor threshold

SOL:

Soleus

TA:

Tibialis anterior

TMS:

Transcranial magnetic stimulation

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Acknowledgments

We sincerely acknowledge Dr. Léonard Féasson for conducting medical inclusions and Régis Bonnefoy for technical assistance. We also thank Rodolphe Testa and Thierry Busso for helping with statistical analysis. J.T. was supported by a doctoral research grant from the Rhône-Alpes Region. P.A. was supported by a doctoral research grant from the General Directorate for Armament, Ministry of Defence (France).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Physiologie de l’Exercice, Université de Lyon, 42023, Saint Etienne, France

    Thomas Lapole, John Temesi, Philippe Gimenez, Pierrick J. Arnal & Guillaume Y. Millet

  2. Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada

    John Temesi & Guillaume Y. Millet

  3. Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute (IRBA), Brétigny-sur-Orge, France

    Pierrick J. Arnal

  4. EA 4497 Groupe de Recherche Clinique et Technologique sur le Handicap, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, Montigny-le-Bretonneux, France

    Michel Petitjean

  5. Service de Physiologie-Explorations Fonctionnelles, Hôpital Ambroise Paré, AP-HP, Boulogne-Billancourt, France

    Michel Petitjean

Authors
  1. Thomas Lapole
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  2. John Temesi
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  3. Philippe Gimenez
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  4. Pierrick J. Arnal
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  5. Guillaume Y. Millet
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  6. Michel Petitjean
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Correspondence to Thomas Lapole.

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Lapole, T., Temesi, J., Gimenez, P. et al. Achilles tendon vibration-induced changes in plantar flexor corticospinal excitability. Exp Brain Res 233, 441–448 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-014-4125-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-014-4125-4

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