Introduction: Fatigue-related group III/IV muscle afferent firing from agonist, antagonist or distal muscles impairs the ability to drive the elbow flexors maximally, that is, reduces voluntary activation. In the lower limb, the effect of feedback from distal muscles on the proximal knee extensors is unknown. Here, we test whether maintained group III/IV afferent feedback from the plantarflexor muscles reduces voluntary activation of the knee extensors.
Methods: On 2 d, voluntary activation of the knee extensors during maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) was assessed in 12 participants before and after a 3-min fatiguing task of the plantarflexors. On 1 d, an inflatable cuff around the calf occluded blood flow for 2 min immediately postexercise (cuff day). The other day had no occlusion (no-cuff day). Supramaximal stimulation of the femoral nerve elicited superimposed twitches during MVC of the knee extensors and resting twitches 2 to 3 s after relaxation. Pain (0-10 point scale) was reported throughout.
Results: In the 2 min after the 3-min fatiguing plantarflexor task, voluntary activation was 5.3% (SD, 7%) lower on the cuff day than on the no-cuff day (P = 0.045), and MVC force was reduced by 13% (SD, 16%) (P = 0.021). The resting twitch was similar on both days (P = 0.98). Pain rated 4.9 points higher with the cuff inflated (P = 0.001).
Conclusions: Maintained group III/IV afferent feedback from the fatigued plantarflexor muscles reduced maximal force and voluntary activation of the unfatigued knee extensors, suggesting that afferents from the calf act centrally to inhibit the ability to drive the motoneurones of the knee extensors.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000002362 | DOI Listing |
BMC Prim Care
January 2025
Division of Family Medicine and Primary Care, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.
Aims: To study differences in cardiovascular prevention and hypertension management in primary care in men and women, with comparisons between public and privately operated primary health care (PHC).
Methods: We used register data from Region Stockholm on collected prescribed medication and registered diagnoses, to identify patients aged 30 years and above with hypertension. Age-adjusted logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 99% confidence intervals (99% CIs) using public PHC centers as referents.
J Clin Med
January 2025
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Institute of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8575, Japan.
Preoperative muscle atrophy leads to persistent gait abnormalities in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA). Efficient motor learning of the gluteus medius is crucial for their recovery. In this study, a single-joint hybrid assistive limb (HAL) was developed to assist hip abduction.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLife (Basel)
January 2025
Sport and Health Research Center, Shanghai YangZhi Rehabilitation Hospital (Shanghai Sunshine Rehabilitation Center), Physical Education Department, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects and potential mechanisms of 8-week transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) combined with resistance training (RT) on pull-up performance in male college students. Twenty-five male college students were randomly assigned to either RT combined with anodal tDCS stimulation (RT + tDCS) or RT alone (RT). Participants of both groups engaged in lat pull-down training programs for 8 weeks, with the RT + tDCS group receiving 20 min tDCS before each RT session.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLife (Basel)
January 2025
Physiotherapy and Health Research Group (FYSA), Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences-HM Hospitals, University Camilo José Cela, Villanueva de la Cañada, 28692 Madrid, Spain.
Background/objectives: Implementing and optimizing pelvic floor muscle (PFM) training programs is crucial for reducing the risk of dysfunctions, improving athletic performance, and enhancing quality of life for athletes. The aim of this study was to assess PFM activation in female athletes during postural challenges.
Methods: An observational and descriptive study was conducted with twenty-five female rugby players.
BMC Nurs
January 2025
Department of Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought various opportunities and challenges to critical care nurses, whose emergency abilities in caring for critically ill patients are related to their safety, clinical effectiveness, and improved prognosis. Currently, there is a lack of research on the actual situation and influencing factors of ICU nurses' emergency ability during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although empirical observations from different departments can provide valuable basis for the health system to formulate preventive measures, efficient training programs and future public emergencies.
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