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Cross-education of wrist extensor strength is not influenced by non-dominant training in right-handers

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European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Cross-education of strength has been proposed to be greater when completed by the dominant limb in right handed humans. We investigated whether the direction of cross-education of strength and corticospinal plasticity are different following right or left limb strength training in right-handed participants.

Methods

Changes in strength, muscle thickness and indices of corticospinal plasticity were analyzed in 23 adults who were exposed to 3-weeks of either right-hand strength training (RHT) or left-hand strength training (LHT).

Results

Maximum voluntary wrist extensor strength in both the trained and untrained limb increased, irrespective of which limb was trained, with TMS revealing reduced corticospinal inhibition.

Conclusions

Cross-education of strength was not limited by which limb was trained and reduced corticospinal inhibition was not just confined to the trained limb. Critically, from a behavioral perspective, the magnitude of cross-education was not limited by which limb was trained.

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Abbreviations

AMT:

Active motor threshold

CON:

Control

ECR:

Extensor carpi radialis muscle

IHI:

Interhemispheric inhibition

LHT:

Left hand training

MEP:

Motor-evoked potential

M MAX :

Maximum compound action potential

M1:

Primary Motor cortex

MVIC:

Maximum voluntary isometric contraction

1RM:

One-repetition maximum

RHT:

Right hand training

rmsEMG:

Root mean square electromyography

sEMG:

Surface electromyography

SICI:

Short-interval intracortical inhibition

TMS:

Transcranial magnetic stimulation

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Acknowledgments

Many thanks to all the participants for giving their time to partake in this research project.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia

    Timothy A. Coombs

  2. Institute for Sport, Exercise and Active Living, School of Sport and Exercise Science, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia

    Ashlyn K. Frazer

  3. Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Microbiology, School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia

    Deanna M. Horvath

  4. Melbourne School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Science, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

    Alan J. Pearce

  5. Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Northumbria University, Newcastle, UK

    Glyn Howatson

  6. La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, School of Allied Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia

    Dawson J. Kidgell

Authors
  1. Timothy A. Coombs
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  2. Ashlyn K. Frazer
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  3. Deanna M. Horvath
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  4. Alan J. Pearce
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  5. Glyn Howatson
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  6. Dawson J. Kidgell
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dawson J. Kidgell.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Communicated by Toshio Moritani.

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Coombs, T.A., Frazer, A.K., Horvath, D.M. et al. Cross-education of wrist extensor strength is not influenced by non-dominant training in right-handers. Eur J Appl Physiol 116, 1757–1769 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-016-3436-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-016-3436-5

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