Abstract
The compound muscle action potential (M wave) has been commonly used to assess the peripheral properties of the neuromuscular system. More specifically, changes in the M-wave features are used to examine alterations in neuromuscular propagation that can occur during fatiguing contractions. The utility of the M wave is based on the assumption that impaired neuromuscular propagation results in a decrease in M-wave size. However, there remains controversy on whether the size of the M wave is increased or decreased during and/or after high-intensity exercise. The controversy partly arises from the fact that previous authors have considered the M wave as a whole, i.e., without analyzing separately its first and second phases. However, in a series of studies we have demonstrated that the first and second phases of the M wave behave in a different manner during and after fatiguing contractions. The present review is aimed at five main objectives: (1) to describe the mechanistic factors that determine the M-wave shape; (2) to analyze the various factors influencing M-wave properties; (3) to emphasize the need to analyze separately the first and second M-wave phases to adequately identify and interpret changes in muscle fiber membrane properties; (4) to advance the hypothesis that it is an increase (and not a decrease) of the M-wave first phase which reflects impaired sarcolemmal membrane excitability; and (5) to revisit the involvement of impaired sarcolemmal membrane excitability in the reduction of the force generating capacity.
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This figure is adapted from Rodriguez-Falces and Place (2017a)
This figure is adapted from Rodriguez-Falces and Place (2016)
This figure is adapted from Rodriguez-Falces and Place (2017)
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Abbreviations
- AmpliFIRST :
-
Amplitude of the first phase of the M wave
- AmpliSECOND :
-
Amplitude of the second phase of the M wave
- AreaFIRST :
-
Area of the first phase of the M wave
- AreaSECOND :
-
Area of the second phase of the M wave
- DurFIRST :
-
Duration of the first phase of the M wave
- DurSECOND :
-
Duration of the second phase of the M wave
- EMG:
-
Electromyographic
- MUAP:
-
Motor unit action potential
- MVC:
-
Maximal voluntary contraction
- N.M.P.:
-
No mechanism proposed
- NS:
-
Not significant
- SFAP:
-
Single fiber action potential
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Communicated by Micheal Lidinger.
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Rodriguez-Falces, J., Place, N. Determinants, analysis and interpretation of the muscle compound action potential (M wave) in humans: implications for the study of muscle fatigue. Eur J Appl Physiol 118, 501–521 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3788-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3788-5