Abstract
Purpose
Eccentric contractions (ECCs) induce muscle damage that is indicated by prolonged loss of muscle function and delayed onset muscle soreness. It is possible that ECCs affect motor nerves, and this may contribute to the prolonged decreases in force generating capability. The present study investigated the hypothesis that M-wave latency of biceps brachii would be increased after maximal elbow flexor ECCs resulting in prolonged loss of muscle strength.
Methods
Fifteen women performed exercise consisting of 60 maximal ECCs of the elbow flexors using their non-dominant arm. M-wave latency was assessed by the time taken from electrical stimulation applied to the Erb’s point to the onset of M-wave of the biceps brachii before, immediately after, and 1–4 days after exercise. Maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVC) torque, range of motion (ROM) and muscle soreness using a numerical rating scale were also assessed before and after exercise.
Results
Prolonged decreases in MVC torque (1–4 days post-exercise: −54 to −15 %) and ROM (1–2 days: −32 to −22 %), and increased muscle soreness (peak: 4.2 out of 10) were evident after exercise (p < 0.05). The M-wave latency increased (p < 0.01) from 5.8 ± 1.0 ms before exercise to 6.5 ± 1.7 ms at 1 day and 7.2 ± 1.5 ms at 2 days after exercise for the exercised arm only. No significant changes in M-wave amplitude were evident after exercise.
Conclusion
The increased M-wave latency did not fully explain the prolonged decreases in MVC torque after eccentric exercise, but may indicate reversible motor nerve impairment.
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Abbreviations
- CK:
-
Creatine kinase
- CNT:
-
Control conduction
- CV:
-
Coefficient of variation
- DOMS:
-
Delayed onset muscle soreness
- E–C coupling:
-
Excitation contraction coupling
- ECCs:
-
Eccentric contractions
- mdx:
-
Muscular dystrophy
- MFCV:
-
Muscle fiber conduction velocity
- MsN:
-
Musculocutaneous nerve
- NCV:
-
Nerve conduction velocity
- NMJ:
-
Neuromuscular junction
- NRS:
-
Numerical rating scale
- ROM:
-
Range of motion
- SD:
-
Standard deviation
- SR:
-
Sarcoplasmic reticulum
- t-tubule:
-
Transverse tubule
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Communicated by Toshio Moritani.
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Kouzaki, K., Nosaka, K., Ochi, E. et al. Increases in M-wave latency of biceps brachii after elbow flexor eccentric contractions in women. Eur J Appl Physiol 116, 939–946 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-016-3358-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-016-3358-2