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Influence of joint position on synergistic muscle activity after fatigue of a single muscle head
Author(s) -
Stutzig Norman,
Siebert Tobias
Publication year - 2015
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.24305
Subject(s) - position (finance) , anatomy , medicine , reflex , stretch reflex , muscle fatigue , stimulation , gastrocnemius muscle , muscle group , muscle contraction , physical medicine and rehabilitation , electromyography , knee joint , skeletal muscle , anesthesia , surgery , finance , economics
: We investigated synergistic muscle activity after fatigue of a single muscle in different joint positions. Methods : Two experimental groups ( n = 12 each) performed maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) before and after fatiguing the gastrocnemius lateralis (GL), using neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES). Neuromuscular tests, including muscle activity during MVC, H‐reflex, and twitch interpolation, were performed. One group completed the experiment in a knee‐extended position with the second group in a knee‐flexed position. Results : In the knee‐flexed position, the muscle activity increased in non‐stimulated synergistic muscles. In contrast, in the knee‐extended position, muscle activity of the synergistic muscles remained unaltered. The MVC force remained unaltered in the flexed position and decreased in the extended position. Conclusions : Synergistic muscles compensate for the fatigued muscle in the flexed position but not in the extended position. Compensation mechanisms seem to depend on joint position. Muscle Nerve 51 : 259–267, 2015