Children have a reduced maximal voluntary activation level of the adductor pollicis muscle compared to adults

Martín, Vicente; Kluka, Virginie; Vicencio, Sebastian Garcia; Maso, Fabien Dal; Ratel, Sébastien

doi:10.1007/s00421-015-3132-x

Cited by 13 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…The interplay of central vs. peripheral mechanisms of 321 fatigue in children remains to be elucidated; however, on the basis of these studies 322 Furthermore, when the initial MVC torque was used as covariate, no significant 406 difference in the course of the twitch torque was observed between groups, supporting 407 the importance of MVC torque in the development of fatigue. This finding is also 408 consistent with other studies that showed the fatigability of the knee extensors during 409 repeated MVC was no longer different between obese and non-obese adolescent girls Vicencio et al 2015). In addition, other studies reported that the greater fatigue 412 observed in men versus women was eliminated when subjects were matched for 413 absolute force (Hunter et al 2004).…”

Section: Resistance Exercise 245supporting

confidence: 86%

Exercise-induced fatigue in young people: advances and future perspectives

2018

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Suitable methods, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation, transcranial electrical stimulation, functional magnetic resonance imaging, near-infrared spectroscopy, tendon vibration, H-reflex, and ultrasound are recommended in the research field of fatigue in youth. By designing studies that test the fatigue effects in movements that replicate daily activities, new knowledge will be acquired. The linkage and interaction between physiological, cognitive, and psychological aspects of human performance remain to be resolved in young people. This can only be successful if research is based on a foundation of basic research focused on the mechanisms of fatigue while measuring all three above aspects.

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Section: Resistance Exercise 245supporting

confidence: 86%

Exercise-induced fatigue in young people: advances and future perspectives

2018

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“…Although some studies reported a comparable level of voluntary activation between children and adults [39] or between children and adolescents [40], other studies have reported a lower voluntary activation level in children compared to adolescents [41] and adults [33,42,43]. Overall, children have a reduced ability to maximally activate their MUs, which has often been attributed to a relative immaturity of the cortico-spinal pathway.…”

Section: Voluntary Activationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is There a Progressive Withdrawal of Physiological Protections against High-Intensity Exercise-Induced Fatigue during Puberty?

Ratel

Martín

2015

Sports

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Puberty is characterized by a large number of physiological modifications that translate into increased neuromuscular fatigue during high-intensity exercise in adolescents compared to prepubertal children. This greater neuromuscular fatigue in adolescents could be attributed to peripheral (i.e., muscular) and central (i.e., nervous) factors that change through puberty. Among the peripheral changes are muscle mass, fiber type composition, energy metabolism and musculo-tendinous stiffness. Among the central modifications are the voluntary activation level, the antagonist co-activation and a differential interplay between central and peripheral fatigue. The objective of this review article will be to underline the importance of these factors on the development of neuromuscular fatigue during high-intensity exercise throughout puberty and to highlight that the adolescents could be physiologically less protected against fatiguing high-intensity exercise than their prepubertal counterparts.

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“…Sixty-seven percent (4/6) of these studies reported lower VA in children compared with adults ( 4 , 12 , 13 , 35 ). Of the studies investigating “older” children (>10 yr, n = 14), 35% (5/14) reported significantly lower VA in children compared with adults ( 10 , 11 , 14 , 33 , 34 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Of these studies, 67% (4/6) reported significantly lower VA in children compared with adults ( 4 , 10 , 12 , 33 ). Of the studies that applied the stimulus (electrical or magnetic) to the nerve, 36% (5/14) reported significantly lower VA in children than in adults ( 11 , 13 , 14 , 34 , 35 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increase in Volitional Muscle Activation from Childhood to Adulthood: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Woods

O'Mahoney

Maynard

et al. 2021

Medicine &Amp; Science in Sports &Amp; Exercise

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Introduction Children’s maximal muscle strength is consistently lower than adults’, even when normalized to body size. Lower volitional muscle activation (VA) in children is often considered one of the main reasons for age-related differences in muscular performance. However, some recent studies have reported similar VA in children and adults, bringing into question whether there is indeed an age-related increase in VA. The purpose of this review was to determine the effect of age on VA during maximal isometric contractions. Methods Literature examining VA differences, using twitch interpolation in children (7–14 yr) and adults (16–28 yr), was systematically reviewed. Of the 1915 studies initially identified, 19 data sets were eligible for inclusion in the qualitative analysis and 14 in the quantitative meta-analysis (comprising 207 children and 193 adults). Results Significantly lower VA in children was reported in 9/19 (47%) studies. A random-effects meta-analysis found a strong effect of age on VA, supporting lower VA in children compared with adults (Hedges’ g = 1.55; confidence interval: 0.9–2.13). Moderator analysis included muscle group, sex, children’s age, stimulation number (singlet, multiple), type (electric, magnetic), and location (muscle, nerve), of which only muscle group was significant ( P < 0.001). A significant Egger’s regression test and asymmetrical funnel plot suggest that publication bias may be present. Conclusions Overall, these findings suggest that compared with adults, children activate their motor-unit pool less compared with adults. Moreover, that the degree of VA increase with age may be influenced by the muscle examined (upper vs lower extremity). However, more research is needed to elucidate the influence of this possible factor, as the current review contains limited data from upper body muscles. The developmental mechanism responsible for children’s lower VA requires further research.

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Children have a reduced maximal voluntary activation level of the adductor pollicis muscle compared to adults

Abstract: The results suggest that on an untrained muscle such as the AP muscle, the reduced ability of children to voluntarily activate their muscle could partly account for the difference of muscle strength between children and adults.

Cited by 13 publications

References 29 publications

Exercise-induced fatigue in young people: advances and future perspectives

Exercise-induced fatigue in young people: advances and future perspectives

Is There a Progressive Withdrawal of Physiological Protections against High-Intensity Exercise-Induced Fatigue during Puberty?

Increase in Volitional Muscle Activation from Childhood to Adulthood: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

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