Sarcolemmal membrane excitability during repeated intermittent maximal voluntary contractions

The study was undertaken to investigate separately the changes in the first and second phases of the muscle compound action potential (M wave) during 4 min of intermittent maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) of the quadriceps. M waves were evoked by supramaximal single electrical stimulation to th...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Rodríguez Falces, Javier, Place, Nicolas
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2018
País:España
Institución:Universidad Pública de Navarra
Repositorio:Academica-e. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad Pública de Navarra
OAI Identifier:oai:academica-e.unavarra.es:2454/55567
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2454/55567
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Femoral nerve stimulation
Intermittent
Isometric
Descripción
Sumario:The study was undertaken to investigate separately the changes in the first and second phases of the muscle compound action potential (M wave) during 4 min of intermittent maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) of the quadriceps. M waves were evoked by supramaximal single electrical stimulation to the femoral nerve delivered in the resting periods between 48 successive MVCs of 3s. The amplitude, duration, and area of the Mwave first and second phases were measured separately, together with muscle conduction velocity and MVC force. During the intermittent MVCs, the amplitude of the M-wave first phase increased uninterruptedly for the first three minutes (12-16%, P<0.05) and stabilized thereafter, whereas the second phase initially increased for 55-75s (11-22%, P<0.05), but decreased subsequently. The enlargement of the first phase occurred in parallel with an increase in its duration, and concomitantly with a decline in conduction velocity (maximal cross-correlations, 0.89-0.97; time lag, 0s). Also, a significant temporal association was found between the amplitude of the first phase and MVC force (time lag, 0s; maximal crosscorrelations, 0.85-0.97). Conversely, there was no temporal association between the second phase amplitude and conduction velocity or MVC force (time lag, 73-117s; maximal cross-correlations, 0.65-0.77). It is concluded that the enlargement of the M-wave first phase is the electrical manifestation of impaired muscle membrane excitability. The results highlight the importance of independently analyzing the first and second phases, as only the first phase can be used reliably to detect changes in membrane excitability, while the second might be affected by muscle architecture.