Training induced changes in quadriceps activation during maximal eccentric contractions.

Despite full voluntary effort, neuromuscular activation of the quadriceps group of muscles appears inhibited during eccentric contractions. A nerve stimulation protocol during dynamic contractions of the quadriceps was developed that employed triplets of supramaximal pulses to assess suppressed eccentric activation. Subsequently the effects of a short training intervention, performed on a dynamometer, on eccentric strength output and neural inhibition were examined.