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The effect of postactivation potentiation on the mechanomyogram

European Journal of Applied Physiology volume 96, pages 17–23 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

To examine whether postactivation potentiation (PAP) was related to changes in the electromyogram (EMG) and in the mechanomyogram (MMG), evoked twitch torque properties were compared before and after a 10 s plantar flexion MVC in ten male subjects. Peak twitch torque (Pt), and the peak acceleration of the twitch torque development (d2 T/dt 2) were measured from electrical tibial nerve stimulation. In addition, from the medial gastrocnemius muscle, peak to peak MMG (p-p MMG) by means of accelerometer, and peak to peak EMG (M-wave) amplitudes were recorded. Immediately (2 s) following the MVC there were significant increases in Pt (47%), d2 T/dt 2 (86%), and p-p MMG (70%), but no change in the M-wave. At 2 s, 15 s, 30 s after the MVC, individual percent changes in p-p MMG were significantly and positively correlated with individual percent changes in both Pt and d2 T/dt 2. These results indicate that evoked MMG reflects acute enhanced force output elicited by PAP, and that the increases in twitch contraction properties represent intrinsic mechanical changes of the muscle, that are not associated with electrical changes. Furthermore, measurements of the evoked p-p MMG signal following PAP support the utility of describing the gross lateral movement phase of the MMG signal.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the subjects for their cooperation. We thank Dr. Katsumi Mita, Dr. Kumi Akataki, and Dr. Kimiyoshi Arimura for helpful suggestion and discussions. This study was partly supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research 13-308001 from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.

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Affiliations

  1. National Institute of Fitness and Sports, Shiromizu, Kanoya, Kagoshima, 891-2393, Japan

    Norihiro Shima

  2. Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging, School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 3K7, Canada

    Charles L. Rice

  3. Graduate School of Sports and Health Science, Osaka University of Health and Sports Sciences, Asashirodai, Kumatori, Osaka, 590-0496, Japan

    Yoichi Ota & Kyonosuke Yabe

Authors
  1. Norihiro Shima
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  2. Charles L. Rice
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  3. Yoichi Ota
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  4. Kyonosuke Yabe
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Correspondence to Norihiro Shima.

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Shima, N., Rice, C.L., Ota, Y. et al. The effect of postactivation potentiation on the mechanomyogram. Eur J Appl Physiol 96, 17–23 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-005-0053-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-005-0053-0

Keywords

  • Twitch potentiation
  • MMG
  • EMG
  • Medial gastrocnemius muscle
  • Plantar flexion