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Changes in the quadriceps spinal reflex pathway after repeated sprint cycling are not influenced by ischemic preconditioning

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Abstract

Purpose

We examined the effect of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) on changes in muscle force, activation, and the spinal reflex pathway during and after repeated sprint cycling.

Methods

Eight recreationally active men (high-intensity cardiorespiratory training > 3 times per week, > 6 months) completed two exercise sessions (5 sets of 5 cycling sprints, 150% max W), preceded by either IPC (3 × 5 min leg occlusions at 220 mmHg) or SHAM (3 × 5 min at 20 mmHg). Knee extensor maximal force and rate of force were measured before (PRE), immediately post (POST), 1H, and 24H after cycling. Twitch interpolation and resting potentiated twitches were applied to estimate voluntary activation and muscle contractility, respectively. Quadriceps H-reflex recruitment curves were collected at all time-points using 10 Hz doublet stimulation to allow estimation of H-reflex post-activation depression. Surface electromyograms and tissue oxygenation (via near-infrared spectroscopy) were continuously recorded during cycling.

Results

IPC did not affect any measure of neuromuscular function or performance during cycling. Maximal force and muscle contractility were significantly lower at POST and 1H compared to PRE and 24H by up to 50% (p < 0.01). Maximal force was lower than PRE at 24H by 8.7% (p = 0.028). Voluntary activation and rate of force were unchanged. A rightwards shift was observed for the H-reflex recruitment curve POST, and post-activation depression was higher than all other time-points at 24H (p < 0.05). Muscle activation and oxygenation decreased during cycling.

Conclusions

IPC has a nominal effect on mechanisms associated with neuromuscular function during and after exercise in healthy populations.

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Abbreviations

½ RT:

Half relaxation time

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

H-reflex:

Hoffman reflex

BW:

Bodyweight

DeOxyHb:

Deoxygenated hemoglobin

IPC:

Ischemic preconditioning

MVC:

Maximal voluntary isometric contraction

M-wave:

Muscle compound action potential

NIRS:

Near-infrared spectroscopy

Q .pot.tw :

Quadriceps resting potentiated twitch

RSE:

Repeated sprint cycling exercise

RMS:

Root mean square

sEMG:

Surface electromyogram

TPT:

Time to peak twitch

TSI:

Muscle tissue oxygenation saturation

VA:

Voluntary activation

VL:

Vastus lateralis

VM:

Vastus medialis

vRTD:

Voluntary rate of torque development

W:

Watts

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Acknowledgements

Funding was received for this study from the School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University. Author SH received funding support for a Ph.D. scholarship from Westfield Sports High. Authors SR and MK received travel support from Aalborg University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Performance Laboratory, School of Health Science, Western Sydney University, Sydney, Australia

    Paul W. Marshall, Samuel Halley & Jason C. Siegler

  2. School of Medicine and Health, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark

    Stine Brock Rasmussen & Malene Krogh

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  1. Paul W. Marshall
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  2. Stine Brock Rasmussen
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  3. Malene Krogh
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  4. Samuel Halley
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  5. Jason C. Siegler
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Contributions

All authors conceived and designed the research. PM, SB, and MK conducted the experiments. PM, SB, and MK processed and analysed the data. All authors contributed to the final editing and revision of the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Paul W. Marshall.

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The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Communicated by Nicolas Place.

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Marshall, P.W., Rasmussen, S.B., Krogh, M. et al. Changes in the quadriceps spinal reflex pathway after repeated sprint cycling are not influenced by ischemic preconditioning. Eur J Appl Physiol 120, 1189–1202 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-020-04359-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-020-04359-9

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