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Effect of stimulation intensity on assessment of voluntary activation
Author(s) -
Van Leeuwen DaniËl M.,
De Ruiter Cornelis J.,
De Haan Arnold
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.23343
Subject(s) - isometric exercise , stimulation , medicine , nerve stimulation , physical medicine and rehabilitation , cardiology , electromyography , skeletal muscle , anatomy , physical therapy
The interpolated twitch technique is often used to assess voluntary activation (VA) of skeletal muscles. We investigated VA and the voluntary torque‐superimposed torque relationship using either supramaximal nerve stimulation or better tolerated submaximal muscle stimulation, which is often used with patients. Methods: Thirteen healthy subjects performed maximal and submaximal isometric knee extensions with superimposed maximal or submaximal doublets (100 Hz). Results: Superimposed torque relative to potentiated resting doublets was smaller with maximal nerve than with submaximal muscle stimulation. Maximal VA was 87 ± 7% and 93 ± 5% for submaximal muscle and maximal nerve stimulation, respectively. The individual voluntary torque‐superimposed torque relationships were more linear for submaximal muscle stimulation, possibly leading to less overestimation of VA. Conclusions: Submaximal muscle stimulation can be used to estimate VA in the knee extensors. It is less painful, and overestimation of VA may be less compared with maximal nerve stimulation. Muscle Nerve 45: 841–848, 2012