Passive muscle stretching reduces estimates of persistent inward current strength in soleus motor units.

Prolonged (≥60 s) passive muscle stretching acutely reduces maximal force production at least partly through a suppression of efferent neural drive. The origin of this neural suppression has not been determined; however, some evidence suggests that reductions in the amplitude of persistent inward currents (PICs) in the motoneurons may be important. The aim of the present study was to determine whether acute passive (static) muscle stretching affects PIC strength in gastrocnemius medialis (GM) and soleus (SOL) motor units.

New Methods for Processing and Quantifying VO Kinetics to Steady State: VO Onset Kinetics.

Current methods of oxygen uptake (VO) kinetics data handling may be too simplistic for the complex physiology involved in the underlying physiological processes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to quantify the VO kinetics to steady state across the full range of sub-ventilatory threshold work rates, with a particular focus on the VO onset kinetics. Ten healthy, moderately trained males participated in five bouts of cycling.