Alteration of synergistic muscle activity following neuromuscular electrical stimulation of one muscle

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine muscle activation of the m. triceps surae during maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) following neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) of the m. gastrocnemius lateralis (GL). The participants (n = 10) performed three MVC during pretest, posttest, and recovery, respectively. Subsequent to the pretest, the GL was stimulated by NMES. During MVC, force and surface electromyography (EMG) of the GL, m. gastrocnemius medialis (GM), and m. soleus (SOL) were measured. NMES of GL induced no significant decline (3%) in force. EMG activity of the GL decreased significantly to 81% (P < 0.05), whereas EMG activity of the synergistic SOL increased to 112% (P < 0.01). The GM (103%, P = 1.00) remained unaltered. Decreased EMG activity in the GL was most likely caused by failure of the electrical propagation at its muscle fiber membrane. The decline of EMG activity in GL was compensated by increased EMG activity of SOL during MVC. It is suggested that these compensatory effects are caused by central contributions induced by NMES.

Muscle force compensation among synergistic muscles after fatigue of a single muscle

“…Thus, we conclude that force compensating mechanisms occurred. Force compensation during voluntary contraction after fatigue of a single muscle has also been reported in the literature (Akima et al, 2002;de Ruiter, Hoddenbach, Huurnink, & de Haan, 2008;Stutzig et al, 2012). For the triceps surae it was reported that the bi-articular GL can be compensated for by its synergistic muscles (Stutzig & Siebert, 2015), which is in agreement with the results of the present study (Fig.…”

“…For example, it was observed that fatigue of a single muscle can be compensated for by synergistic muscles resulting in unchanged synergistic muscle forces (Akima, Foley, Prior, Dudley, & Meyer, 2002;Stutzig & Siebert, 2015;Stutzig, Siebert, Granacher, & Blickhan, 2012). Stutzig et al (2012) and Stutzig and Siebert (2015) fatigued the gastrocnemius lateralis (GL) solely and observed increased synergistic (soleus, gastrocnemius medialis) muscle activities (about 10%) during isometric maximum voluntary contractions (MVC: maximal contraction that a subject accepts as maximal and that is produced with appropriate continuous feedback of achievement (Gandevia, 2001)). Similar results have been reported by Akima et al (2002) who fatigued the vastus lateralis.…”

Influence of joint position on synergistic muscle activity after fatigue of a single muscle head

“…This increase was in response to NMES of the GL. Increased muscle activity of synergistic muscles after NMES of 1 muscle has also been reported . Akima et al .…”

“…It has been reported that fatigue of a single muscle leads to increased muscle activity in synergistic muscles during voluntary contractions . This observation was identified for different muscle groups and is interpreted to be a compensating effect . It is assumed that the force‐compensating effects of synergistic muscles depend on muscle length …”

Reproducibility of electromyographic and mechanical parameters of the triceps surae during submaximal and maximal plantar flexions

“…The triceps surae is a muscle that is frequently examined in neuromuscular research . This muscle consists of the soleus (SOL), lateral gastrocnemius (LG), and medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscles.…”