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Muscle fibre conduction velocity varies in opposite directions after short- vs. long-duration muscle contractions

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Abstract

Introduction

The effects of muscle contractions on muscle fibre conduction velocity have normally been investigated for contractions of a given duration and intensity, with most studies being focused on the decline on conduction velocity during/after prolonged contractions. Herein, we perform a systematic analysis of the changes in conduction velocity after voluntary contractions of different durations and intensities.

Methods

Conduction velocity was estimated in the vastus lateralis before and after knee extensor isometric maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) of 1, 3, 6, 10, 30 and 60 s, and after brief (3 s) contractions at 10, 30, 50, 70, and 90% of MVC force. Measurements were made during the 10-min period following each contraction.

Results

(1) Conduction velocity was increased immediately after (1 s) the MVCs of brief (≤ 10 s) duration (12 ± 2%, P < 0.05), and then returned rapidly (within 15 s) to control levels; (2) the extent of the increase in conduction velocity was similar after the 3-s, 6-s, and 10-s MVCs (P > 0.05); (3) the magnitude of the increase in conduction velocity after a brief contraction augmented with the intensity of the contraction (increases of 4.6, 7.7, 11.4, 14.8, and 15.2% for contractions at 10, 30, 50, 70, and 90% of MVC force, respectively); (4) conduction velocity was not decreased immediately after the 30-s MVC (P > 0.05); and (5) conduction velocity did not reach its minimum 1 s after the long (≥ 30 s) MVCs.

Conclusions

Brief (≤ 10 s) muscle contractions induce a short-term increase in conduction velocity, lasting 15 s, while long (≥ 30 s) contractions produce a long-term decrease in conduction velocity, lasting more than 2 min.

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Abbreviations

DurPP :

Peak-to-peak duration of the M-wave

Fmedian:

Median frequency of the M-wave

EMG:

Electromyographic

MVC:

Maximal voluntary contraction

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No grants are declared. I declare that the authors have no financial interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical and Electronical Engineering, Universidad Pública de Navarra D.I.E.E., Campus de Arrosadía s/n, 31006, Pamplona, Spain

    Javier Rodriguez-Falces

  2. Department of Physiology, Institute of Sport Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Nicolas Place

Authors
  1. Javier Rodriguez-Falces
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  2. Nicolas Place
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Contributions

JR-F and NP designed the experimental study; JR-F performed the experiments; J R-F analysed the data; J R-F and NP interpreted the results of experiments; J R-F drafted the manuscript; J R-F and NP edited and revised the manuscript; JR-F and NP approved the final version of manuscript.

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Correspondence to Javier Rodriguez-Falces.

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Communicated by Olivier Seynnes.

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Rodriguez-Falces, J., Place, N. Muscle fibre conduction velocity varies in opposite directions after short- vs. long-duration muscle contractions. Eur J Appl Physiol 121, 1315–1325 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021-04613-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021-04613-8

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