European Journal of Applied Physiology

, Volume 112, Issue 8, pp 3097–3107 | Cite as

Reduction in corticospinal inhibition in the trained and untrained limb following unilateral leg strength training

  • Christopher Latella
  • Dawson J. Kidgell
  • Alan J. Pearce
Original Article
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Abstract

This study used transcranial magnetic stimulation to measure the corticospinal responses following 8 weeks of unilateral leg strength training. Eighteen healthy, non-strength trained participants (14 male, 4 female; 18–35 years of age) were matched for age, gender, and pre-training strength; and assigned to a training or control group. The trained group participated in unilateral horizontal leg press strength training, progressively overloaded and wave periodised, thrice per week for 8 weeks. Testing occurred prior to the intervention, at the end of 4 weeks and at the completion of training at 8 weeks. Participants were tested in both legs for one repetition maximum strength, muscle thickness, maximal electromyography (EMG) activity, and corticospinal excitability and inhibition. No changes were observed in muscle thickness in either leg. The trained leg showed an increase in strength of 21.2% (P = 0.001) and 29.0% (P = 0.007, compared to pre-testing) whilst the untrained contralateral leg showed 17.4% (P = 0.01) and 20.4% (P = 0.004, compared to pre-testing) increases in strength at 4 and 8 weeks, respectively. EMG and corticospinal excitability did not change; however, corticospinal inhibition was significantly reduced by 17.7 ms (P = 0.003) and 17.3 ms (P = 0.001) at 4 and 8 weeks, respectively, in the trained leg, and 25.1 ms (P = 0.001) and 20.8 ms (P = 0.001) at 4 and 8 weeks, respectively, in the contralateral untrained leg. This data support the theory of corticospinal adaptations underpinning cross-education gains in the lower limbs following unilateral strength training.

Keywords

Strength Unilateral training Cross-education Transcranial magnetic stimulation 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

No financial assistance was provided for this study. We thank the reviewers for their helpful suggestions.

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 2011

Authors and Affiliations

  • Christopher Latella
    • 1
  • Dawson J. Kidgell
    • 2
  • Alan J. Pearce
    • 1
  1. 1.Motor Control TMS Laboratory, School of Sport and Exercise ScienceVictoria UniversityMelbourneAustralia
  2. 2.Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition ResearchDeakin UniversityMelbourneAustralia

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