Abstract
Introduction
Cross education defines the gains observed in the contralateral limb following unilateral strength training of the other limb. The present study questioned the neural mechanisms associated with cross education following training by motor imagery (MI) or submaximal neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), both representing a partial activation of the motor system as compared to conventional strength training.
Methods
Twenty-seven participants were distributed in three groups: MI, NMES and control. Training groups underwent a training program of ten sessions in two weeks targeting plantar flexor muscles of one limb. In both legs, neuromuscular plasticity was assessed through maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MViC) and triceps surae electrophysiological responses evoked by electrical nerve stimulation (H-reflexes and V-waves).
Results
NMES and MI training improved MViC torque of the trained limb by 11.3% (P < 0.001) and 13.8% (P < 0.001), respectively. MViC of the untrained limb increased by 10.3% (P < 0.003) in the MI group only, accompanied with increases in V-waves on both sides. In the NMES group, V-waves only increased in the trained limb. In the MI group, rest H-reflexes increased in both the trained and the untrained triceps suraes.
Conclusion
MI seems to be effective to induce cross education, probably because of the activation of cortical motor regions that impact the corticospinal neural drive of both trained and untrained sides. Conversely, submaximal NMES did not lead to cross education. The present results emphasize that cross education does not necessarily require muscle activity of the trained limb.
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Abbreviations
- ANOVA:
-
Analysis of variance
- CON:
-
Control group
- EMG:
-
Electromyography
- GL:
-
Gastrocnemius lateralis
- GM:
-
Gastrocnemius medialis
- HMAX :
-
Maximal H-reflex
- HSUP :
-
Superimposed H-reflex
- MATH :
-
M-wave recorded with the corresponding H-reflex
- MI:
-
Motor imagery
- MIQ-R:
-
Motor Imagery Questionnaire—revised
- MMAX :
-
Maximal M-wave
- MSUP :
-
Superimposed M-wave
- MViC:
-
Maximal voluntary isometric contraction
- NMES:
-
Neuromuscular electrical stimulation
- Pt:
-
Peak twitch
- RMS:
-
Root mean square
- SOL:
-
Soleus muscle
- TA:
-
Tibialis anterior
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Acknowledgements
No funding was received for this work. The results of the study are presented clearly, honestly, and without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate data manipulation. All data are available if needed. Code availability (software application or custom code): not applicable. Participants gave written informed consent to participate in the present study and to its publication. The experimental design was approved by the regional ethic committee (CPP COOM III number 2017-A00064-49; Clinical trial.gouv identifier NCT03334526) and conducted in conformity with the latest version of the Declaration of Helsinki.
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AM and SG conceived and designed research. AB conducted experiments and extracted results. SG ran statistical analyses and designed graphs and tables. AB, AM and SG analyzed data. AB wrote the manuscript. All authors read and approved the manuscript.
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Communicated by Toshio Moritani.
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Bouguetoch, A., Martin, A. & Grosprêtre, S. Does partial activation of the neuromuscular system induce cross-education training effect? Case of a pilot study on motor imagery and neuromuscular electrical stimulation. Eur J Appl Physiol 121, 2337–2348 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021-04710-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021-04710-8