Spinal excitability is increased in the torque-depressed isometric steady state following active muscle shortening.

ABSTRACT: Torque depression (TD) is the reduction in steady-state isometric torque following active muscle shortening when compared with a purely isometric contraction at the same muscle length and level of activation. The purpose of the present study was to assess spinal and supraspinal excitability in the TD state during submaximal contractions of the dorsiflexors. Eleven young (24 ± 2 yrs) males performed 16 contractions at a constant level of electromyographic activity (40% of maximum). Half of the contractions were purely isometric (8 s at an ankle angle of 100°), whereas the other half induced TD (2 s isometric at 140°, a 1 s shortening phase at 40° s-1 and 5 s at 100°). Motor evoked potentials (MEPs), cervicomedullary motor evoked potentials (CMEPs) and compound muscle action potentials (M-wa

SUBMITTER: Sypkes CT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5717670 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature