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Ipsi- and contralateral H-reflexes and V-waves after unilateral chronic Achilles tendon vibration

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Abstract

Chronic Achilles tendon vibration has previously shown its effectiveness in improving plantar flexor’s strength and activation capacities. The present study investigated the related neural mechanisms by analyzing H-reflexes and V-waves of the soleus (SOL) and gastrocnemii (GM gastrocnemius medialis; GL gastrocnemius lateralis) muscles under maximal isometric plantar flexion. Moreover, recordings were conducted bilaterally to address potential crossed effects. 11 subjects were engaged in this study. Maximal voluntary contraction and superimposed H-reflexes and V-waves were quantified in both legs at baseline (PRE) and 2 weeks later to verify repeatability of data (CON). Then, subjects were retested after 14 days of daily unilateral Achilles tendon vibration (VIB; 1 h per day; frequency: 50 Hz). No changes were reported between PRE and CON data. In the VIB condition, there was an increase in MVC for both the vibrated (+9.1 %; p = 0.016) and non-vibrated (+10.2 %; p = 0.009) legs. The H-reflex increased by a mean 25 % in the vibrated SOL (p < 0.001), while it remained unchanged for the contralateral side (p = 0.531). The SOL V-wave also increased in the vibrated limb (+43.3 %; p < 0.001), as well as in the non-vibrated one (+41.9 %; p = 0.006). Furthermore, the GM V-wave increased by 37.8 % (p = 0.081) in the vibrated side and by 39.4 % (p = 0.03) in the non-vibrated side. However, no changes were reported for the GL muscles. While the present study confirmed the strength gains induced by chronic Achilles tendon vibration, the results indicated a cross-education phenomenon with differences in neural adaptations between the vibrated leg and non-vibrated leg.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grants of the Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES, France).

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  1. CNRS UMR 7338 Biomécanique et Bioingénierie, Université de Technologie de Compiègne, 60205, Compiègne Cedex, France

    Thomas Lapole, Francis Canon & Chantal Pérot

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  1. Thomas Lapole
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  2. Francis Canon
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  3. Chantal Pérot
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Correspondence to Chantal Pérot.

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Communicated by Toshio Moritani.

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Lapole, T., Canon, F. & Pérot, C. Ipsi- and contralateral H-reflexes and V-waves after unilateral chronic Achilles tendon vibration. Eur J Appl Physiol 113, 2223–2231 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-013-2651-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-013-2651-6

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