Neuromuscular mechanisms for the fast decline in rate of force development with muscle disuse - a narrative review.

ABSTRACT: The removal of skeletal muscle tension (unloading or disuse) is followed by many changes in the neuromuscular system, including muscle atrophy and loss of isometric maximal strength (measured by maximal force, F_max). Explosive strength, i.e. the ability to develop the highest force in the shortest possible time, to maximise rate of force development (RFD), is a fundamental neuromuscular capability, often more functionally relevant than maximal muscle strength. In the present review, we discuss data from studies that looked at the effect of muscle unloading on isometric maximal versus explosive strength. We present evidence that muscle unloading yields a greater decline in explosive relative to maximal strength. The longer the unloading duration, the smaller the difference betwee

SUBMITTER: Ruggiero L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12810236 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature