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Neuroplasticity following short‐term strength training occurs at supraspinal level and is specific for the trained task
Author(s) -
Giboin L.S.,
Weiss B.,
Thomas F.,
Gruber M.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
acta physiologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.591
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1748-1716
pISSN - 1748-1708
DOI - 10.1111/apha.12998
Subject(s) - neuroplasticity , isometric exercise , physical medicine and rehabilitation , task (project management) , psychology , strength training , reflex , medicine , motor learning , neuroscience , physical therapy , management , economics
Aims Different modalities of strength training cause performance enhancements, which are specific for the trained task. However, the involved mechanisms are still largely unknown. It has been demonstrated that strength training could induce neuroplasticity, which might underlie the performance improvements during the first training sessions. Thus, we hypothesized to find task‐specific neuroplasticity after a short‐term strength training of two distinct strength tasks. Methods Young healthy male subjects were exposed to 4 sessions of either maximal isometric explosive ( EXPL group, N = 9) or slow sustained ( SUS group, N = 10) knee extensions. Pre‐ and post‐training, we measured H‐reflexes and motor evoked potentials ( MEP s) in the vastus lateralis ( VL ) at the onset of both strength tasks. Results Pre‐ and post‐training, H‐reflexes remained unchanged in both groups. MEP areas were lower in the trained task in both groups and remained unchanged in the untrained task. Conclusion This study demonstrated that short‐term strength training induces specific neuroplasticity for the trained task only. The fact that MEP s were lower but H‐reflex amplitudes remained unchanged at the onset of the trained tasks suggests that strength training elicited neuroplasticity at supraspinal level that most likely reflect an improved task‐specific corticospinal efficiency.