Modulation of spinal excitability following neuromuscular electrical stimulation superimposed to voluntary contraction

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Author
Borzuola, Riccardo
Labanca, Luciana
Macaluso, Andrea
Laudani, Luca
Date
2020-07-17Acceptance date
2020-06-29
Type
Article
Publisher
Springer
ISSN
1439-6319
1439-6327 (online)
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Purpose. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) superimposed on voluntary muscle contraction has been recently
shown as an innovative training modality within sport and rehabilitation, but its effects on the neuromuscular system are
still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate acute responses in spinal excitability, as measured by the Hoffmann
(H) reflex, and in maximal voluntary contraction (MVIC) following NMES superimposed to voluntary isometric
contractions (NMES+ISO) compared to passive NMES only and to voluntary isometric contractions only (ISO). Method.
Fifteen young adults were required to maintain an ankle plantar-flexor torque of 20% MVC for 20 repetitions during each
experimental condition (NMES+ISO, NMES and ISO). Surface electromyography was used to record peak-to-peak Hreflex and motor waves following percutaneous stimulation of the posterior tibial nerve in the dominant limb. An
isokinetic dynamometer was used to assess maximal voluntary contraction output of the ankle plantar flexor muscles.
Results. H-reflex amplitude was increased by 4.5% after the NMES+ISO condition (p < 0.05), while passive NMES and
ISO conditions showed a decrease by 7.8% (p < 0.05) and no change in reflex responses, respectively. There was no
change in amplitude of maximal motor wave and in MVIC torque during each experimental condition. Conclusion. The
reported facilitation of spinal excitability following NMES+ISO could be due to a combination of greater motor neuronal
and corticospinal excitability, thus suggesting that NMES superimposed onto isometric voluntary contractions may
provide a more effective neuromuscular stimulus and, hence, training modality compared to NMES alone.
Journal/conference proceeding
European Journal of Applied Physiology;
Citation
Borzuola, R., Labanca, L., Macaluso, A. and Laudani, L., (2020) 'Modulation of spinal excitability following neuromuscular electrical stimulation superimposed to voluntary contraction', European Journal of Applied Physiology, pp.1-9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-020-04430-5
Description
Article published in European Journal of Applied Physiology available open access at https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-020-04430-5
Sponsorship
Cardiff Metropolitan University (Grant ID: Cardiff Metropolian (Internal))
Collections
- Sport Research Groups [1090]
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