Motor unit firing behavior in human arm flexor muscles during sinusoidal isometric contractions and movements

Bolhuis, B.M. van; Medendorp, W. Pieter; Gielen, C.C.A.M.

doi:10.1007/s002210050205

Cited by 53 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…However, this mechanism cannot explain why BRD and BIB changed activity when shortening because no ex-and firing rate could be different in eccentric and concentric contractions, such that the same amount of force is obtained by various combinations of recruitment and firing rate, giving rise to different REMG levels. Evidence for a different recruitment pattern in different types of muscle contraction has been provided by several studies (Nardone, Romano, & Schieppati, 1989;van Bolhuis, Medendorp, & Gielen, 1997). However, the present experimental data in the literature do not warrant quantitative verification of this hypothesis.…”

Section: Force-velocity Relationshipcontrasting

confidence: 62%

Relevance of the Force-Velocity Relationship in the Activation of Mono- and Bi-Articular Muscles in Slow Arm Movements in Humans

Welter¹,

Bobbert²,

Bolhuis³

et al. 2000

Motor Control

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We have investigated whether differences in EMG activity in mono-and biarticular muscles for concentric and eccentric contractions (van Bolhuis, Gielen, & van Ingen Schenau, 1998) have to be attributed to a specific muscle coordination strategy or whether they are merely a demonstration of adaptations necessary to adjust for muscle contractile properties. Slow, multi-joint ann movements were studied in a horizontal plane with an external force applied at the wrist. Kinematics and electromyography data from 10 subjects were combined with data from a 3-D model of the arm and a Hill-type muscle model. Data for both mono-and bi-articular muscles revealed a higher activation in concentric than in eccentric contractions. The model calculations indicated that the measured difference in activation (20%) was much larger than expected based on the force-velocity relationship (predicting changes of -5%).Although these findings eliminate the force-velocity relationship as the main explanation for changes in EMG, it cannot be ruled out that other muscle contractile properties, such as history dependence of muscle force, determine muscle activation levels in the task that was studied.

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Section: Force-velocity Relationshipcontrasting

confidence: 62%

Relevance of the Force-Velocity Relationship in the Activation of Mono- and Bi-Articular Muscles in Slow Arm Movements in Humans

Welter¹,

Bobbert²,

Bolhuis³

et al. 2000

Motor Control

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“…Kawakami et al, 1994). So far, its activity was mainly measured with intramuscular EMG (e.g., Buchanan et al, 1986;Rudroff et al, 2008;van Bolhuis et al, 1997;van Zuylen et al, 1988). The few studies that have investigated the BR activity with surface EMG did not test for potential interference from adjacent muscles (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…So far, activity of this important elbow flexor has mainly be measured with intramuscular electromyography (EMG, e.g. Basmajian and Latif, 1957;Buchanan et al, 1986;Hodges et al, 2003;Naito et al, 1998;Rudroff et al, 2008;Staudenmann et al, 2009;van Bolhuis et al, 1997;van Zuylen et al, 1988) but there exist a few studies using surface EMG (e.g. Praagman et al, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Brachialis muscle activity can be assessed with surface electromyography

Staudenmann

Taube

2015

Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology

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The brachialis muscle (BR) represents an important elbow flexor and its activity has so far mainly been measured with intramuscular electromyography (EMG). The aim of this study was to examine whether the activity of the BR can be assessed with surface EMG without interference from the biceps brachii (BB). With eight subjects we measured surface EMG of the arm flexor synergists, BR, BB, and brachioradialis (BRR) during two isometric voluntary contraction types: (1) pure elbow flexion and (2) elbow flexion with a superimposed forearm supination. Since the BR and BB have a distinct biomechanical function, an individual activity of the BR can be expected for the second contraction type, if the BR can be assessed independently from the BB. The correlation coefficients between EMG amplitudes and flexion force (supination torque) were determined. During pure flexion the activities of all synergists were similarly correlated with the flexion force (r = 0.96 ± 0.02). During flexion + supination the activity of the BR was distinct from the activity of the BB, with a 14% higher correlation for the BR with the flexion force and a 40-64% lower correlation with the supination torque. The BB predicted supination torque substantially better than the BR and BRR (r = 0.93 ± 0.02). The current results demonstrate that the activity of the BR can be assessed with surface EMG as it was distinct from the BB during flexion + supination but predicted flexion force equally well as BB during the pure flexion contraction.

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“…It is well known that the recruitment levels and firing frequencies of motor units are different in isometric and in shortening contractions (Tax et al 1989;Tax et al 1990). Such differences are also observed when individuals are required to produce either sinusoidal isometric contractions or sinusoidal movements (Van Bolhuis et al 1997). Can such organisational form be related to the current results?…”

Section: Possible Neurophysiological Aspects Of Modulations Of Pattermentioning

confidence: 96%

Bimanual coordination between isometric contractions and rhythmic movements: an asymmetric coupling

Peper¹,

Carson

1999

Experimental Brain Research

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Interactions between rhythmically moving limbs typically result in attraction to a limited number of coordination modes, which are distinguished in terms of their stability. In addition, the stability of coordination typically decreases with elevations in movement frequency. To gain more insight into the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying these stability characteristics, the effects of phasic voluntary muscle activation onto the movement pattern of the contralateral limb as well as onto the stability of interlimb coordination were examined. This was done in circumstances in which a minimal degree of movement-elicited afferent information was available to mediate the coupling influences. The task involved rhythmic application of isometric torque by one hand, while the other hand was moving rhythmically with unconstrained amplitude. The effects of two levels of applied torque, two coordination patterns (inphase and antiphase), and two movement frequencies were determined, both at the behavioural level (movement kinematics and kinetics) and the neuromuscular level (EMG). The isometric applications of torque clearly influenced the muscle-activation profile and movement pattern of the other limb, affecting both temporal variability and amplitude. Surprisingly, there were no differences between the two coordination patterns or between the tempo conditions. As such, the results did not conform to the Haken-Kelso-Bunz model for rhythmic movement coordination. These data suggest that the archetypal differences in stability of rhythmic bimanual coordination are contingent upon a correspondence between the limbs in terms of their respective tasks. This interpretation is elaborated in terms of the role of sensory feedback and the functional specificity of motor unit recruitment in rhythmic interlimb coordination.

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Motor unit firing behavior in human arm flexor muscles during sinusoidal isometric contractions and movements

Cited by 53 publications

References 18 publications

Relevance of the Force-Velocity Relationship in the Activation of Mono- and Bi-Articular Muscles in Slow Arm Movements in Humans

Relevance of the Force-Velocity Relationship in the Activation of Mono- and Bi-Articular Muscles in Slow Arm Movements in Humans

Brachialis muscle activity can be assessed with surface electromyography

Bimanual coordination between isometric contractions and rhythmic movements: an asymmetric coupling

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