Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Chronic neural adaptation induced by long-term resistance training in humans

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

While it is known that resistance training causes changes in the central nervous system (CNS) in the initial stages of training, there have been few studies of cumulative or sustained neural adaptation to resistance training beyond the initial periods. To further investigate this we compared the electromyographic (EMG) response to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) during voluntary contractions of ten subjects who have been training for more than 2 years, resistance-training (RT) group, and ten subjects that have never participated in resistance training (NT). The active motor threshold for biceps brachii was obtained during voluntary elbow flexion at 10% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). TMS was also delivered at 100% of the maximal stimulator output while the participants exerted forces ranging from 10 to 90% of MVC. Evoked force, motor-evoked potential (MEP) amplitude and latency from biceps brachii was recorded for each condition to explore changes in corticospinal excitability. The evoked force was significantly lower in the RT group in comparison with the NT group between 30 and 70% of MVC intensity (P<0.05). At 90% of MVC, nine subjects from the RT group showed an absence in the evoked force while this occurred in only five subjects from the NT group. The MEP amplitude and latency changed significantly (P<0.001) with increasing levels of contraction, without significant difference between groups. These results indicate that changes in the CNS are sustained in the log-term practices of resistance training and permit a higher voluntary activation at several intensities of the MVC.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aagaard P, Simonen EB, Andersen JL, Magnusson P, Dyhre-Poulsen P (2002) Neural adaptation to resistance training: changes in evoked V-wave and H-reflex responses. J Appl Physiol 92:2309–2318

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Belanger AY, McComas AJ (1981) Extent of motor unit activation during effort. J Appl Physiol 51:1131–1135

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bellemare F, Woods JJ, Johansson R, Bigland-Ritchie B (1983) Motor-unit discharge rates in maximal voluntary contractions of three human muscles. J Neurophysiol 50:1380–1392

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buchanan TS, Rovai GP, Rymer WZ (1989) Strategies for muscle activation during isometric torque generation at the human elbow. J Neurophysiol 62:1201–1212

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Buchanan TS, Almdale DP, Lewis JL, Rymer WZ (1986) Characteristics of synergic relations during isometric contractions of human elbow muscles. J Neurophysiol 56:1225–1241

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Calancie B, Nordin M, Wallin U, Hagbarth KE (1987) Motor-unit responses in human wrist flexor and extensor muscles to transcranial cortical stimuli. J Neurophysiol 58:1168–1185

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carolan B, Carafelli E (1992) Adaptations in coactivation isometric resistance training. J Appl Physiol 73:911–917

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll TJ, Riek S, Carson RG (2002) The sites of neural adaptation induced by resistance training in humans. J Physiol 544:641–652

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Danion F, Latash ML, Li S (2003) Finger interactions studied with transcranial magnetic stimulation during multi-finger force production tasks. Clin Neurophysiol 114:1445–1455

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Day BL, Rothwell JC, Thompson PD, Dick JP, Cowan JM, Berardelli A, et al (1987) Motor cortex stimulation in intact man. 2. Multiple descending volleys. Brain 110:1191–1209

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Luca CJ, LeFever RS, McCue MP, Xenakis AP (1982) Behaviour of human motor units in different muscles during linearly varying contractions. J Physiol 329:113–128

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Serres SJ, Enoka RM (1998) Older adults can maximally activate the biceps brachii muscle by voluntary command. J Appl Physiol 84:284–291

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Enoka RM (1997) Neural adaptations with chronic physical activity. J Biomech 30:447–455

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Enoka RM, Fuglevand AJ (2001) Motor unit physiology: some unresolved issues. Muscle Nerve 24:4–17

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gandevia SC, Allen GM, McKenzie DK (1995) Central fatigue. Critical issues, quantification and practical implications. Adv Exp Med Biol 384:281–294

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Garland SJ, Griffin L (1999) Motor unit double discharges: statistical anomaly or functional entity? Can J Appl Physiol 24:113–130

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hakkinen K, Komi PV (1983) Electromyographic changes during strength training and detraining. Med Sci Sport Exerc 15:455–460

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen JL, Marstrand PC, Nielsen JB (2005) Motor skill training and strength training are associated with different plastic changes in the central nervous system. J Appl Physiol 99:1558–1568

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kiers L, Clouston P, Chiappa KH, Cros D (1995) Assessment of cortical motor output: compound muscle action potential versus twitch force recording. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 97:131–139

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kukulka CG, Clamann HP (1981) Comparison of the recruitment and discharge properties of motor units in human brachial biceps and adductor pollicis during isometric contractions. Brain Res 19:45–55

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macefield VG, Fuglevand AJ, Bigland-Ritchie B (1996) Contractile properties of single motor units in human toe extensors assessed by intraneural motor axon stimulation. J Neurophysiol 75:2509–2519

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Magistris MR, Rosler KM, Truffert A, Myers JP (1998) Transcranial stimulation excites virtually all motoneurons supplying the target muscle. A demonstration and a method improving the study of motor evoked potentials. Brain 121:437–450

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Merton PA (1954) Voluntary strength and fatigue. J Physiol 123:553–564

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pascual-Leone A, Grafman J, Hallett M (1994) Modulation of cortical motor output maps during development of implicit and explicit knowledge. Science 263:1287–1289

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pascual-Leone A, Nguyet D, Cohen LG, Brasil-Neto JP, Cammarota A, Hallett M (1995) Modulation of muscle responses evoked by transcranial magnetic stimulation during the acquisition of new fine motor skills. J Neurophysiol 74:1037–1045

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Person RS, Kudina LP (1972) Discharge frequency and discharge pattern of human motor units during voluntary contraction of muscle. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 32:471–483

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reid A, Chiappa KH, Cors D (2002) Motor threshold, facilitation and the silent period in cortical magnetic stimulation. In: Pascual-Leone A, Davey NJ, Rothwell JC, Wassermann EM, Puri BK (eds) Handbook of transcranial magnetic stimulation. Arnold, London, pp 97–111

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenthal J, Waller HJ, Amassian VE (1967) An analysis of the activation of motor cortical neurons by surface stimulation. J Neurophysiol 30:844–858

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rothwell JC, Day BL, Thompson PD, Dick JP, Marsden CD (1987) Some experiences of techniques for stimulation of the human cerebral motor cortex through the scalp. Neurosurgery 20:156–163

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rutherford OM, Jones DA (1986) The role of learning and coordination in strength training. Eur J Appl Physiol 55:100–105

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sale DG (1988) Neural adaptation to resistance training. Med Sci Sport Exerc 20:S135–S145

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor JL, Allen GM, Butler JE, Gandevia SC (1997) Effect of contraction strength on responses in biceps brachii and adductor pollicis to transcranial magnetic stimulation. Exp Brain Res 117:472–478

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas CK, Johansson RS, Bigland-Ritchie B (1999) Pattern of pulses that maximize force output from single human thenar motor units. J Neurophysiol 82:3188–3195

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Todd G, Taylor JL, Gandevia SC (2003) Measurement of voluntary activation of fresh and fatigued human muscles using transcranial magnetic stimulation. J Physiol 551:661–671

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Cutsem M, Duchateau J, Hainaut K (1998) Changes in single motor unit behaviour contribute to the increase in contraction speed after dynamic training in humans. J Physiol 513:295–305

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yue GH, Ranganathan VK, Siemionow V, Liu JZ, Sahgal V (2000) Evidence of inability to fully activate human limb muscle. Muscle Nerve 23:376–384

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zajac FE, Young JL (1980) Properties of stimulus trains producing maximum tension-time area per pulse from single motor units in medial gastrocnemiu muscle of the cat. J Neurophysiol 43:1206–1220

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zehr EP, Sale DG (1994) Ballistic movement: muscle activation and neuromuscular adaptation. Can J Appl Physiol 19:363–378

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ziemann U, Rothwell JC (2000) I-waves in motor cortex. J Clin Neurophysiol 17:397–405

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a Xunta de Galicia Grant (PGIDIT02BTF13701PR). We wish to thank Prof. John Rothwell for his suggestions and Noa Fogelson for the revision of the manuscript.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Miguel Fernandez del Olmo

    Present address: Sobell Department, The Institute of Neurology, 8-11 Queen Square, Box 146, WC1N 3BG, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine-INEF-Galicia, Laboratory of Neuroscience and Motor Control (NEUROcom), Universidad de A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain

    Miguel Fernandez del Olmo, Pedro Reimunde, Oscar Viana, Rafael Martin Acero & Javier Cudeiro

  2. Department of Medicine, NEUROcom, Campus de Oza, 15006, A Coruña, Spain

    Miguel Fernandez del Olmo

Authors
  1. Miguel Fernandez del Olmo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Pedro Reimunde
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Oscar Viana
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Rafael Martin Acero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Javier Cudeiro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Miguel Fernandez del Olmo.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fernandez del Olmo, M., Reimunde, P., Viana, O. et al. Chronic neural adaptation induced by long-term resistance training in humans. Eur J Appl Physiol 96, 722–728 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-006-0153-5

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-006-0153-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation