Force enhancement at different levels of voluntary contraction in human adductor pollicis. 2006

Ali E Oskouei, and Walter Herzog
Human Performance Laboratory, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alta, Canada, T2N 1N4. walter@kin.ucalgary.ca

There is substantial evidence that the steady-state isometric force following active muscle stretch is greater than the corresponding isometric force for sub-maximal and maximal electrically induced contractions, and for maximal voluntary contractions (MVC). This so-called force enhancement (FE) has not been investigated systematically for sub-MVC. Recently, we found that FE only occurred in about half of all tested subjects at 30% of MVC in the adductor pollicis muscle, suggesting that FE for voluntary contractions might depend on the level of activation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if FE during voluntary contractions is associated with activation. We hypothesized that FE increases with increasing levels of activation, and thus increasing levels of effort. Subjects (n=12) performed voluntary contractions of the adductor pollicis using a custom-built dynamometer at 10 and 60% of maximal effort. There was consistent FE in 4 of 12 subjects at 10% and in 10 of 12 subjects at 60% of maximal voluntary effort. Furthermore, the absolute FE increased from 10 to 60% of maximal voluntary effort. The results of this study, together with previous results on the same subject group at 30% and other subjects at 100% of maximal voluntary effort, suggest that FE systematically increases with increasing levels of voluntary contraction. The mechanisms responsible for this increased FE remain unclear.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007537 Isometric Contraction Muscular contractions characterized by increase in tension without change in length. Contraction, Isometric,Contractions, Isometric,Isometric Contractions
D004576 Electromyography Recording of the changes in electric potential of muscle by means of surface or needle electrodes. Electromyogram,Surface Electromyography,Electromyograms,Electromyographies,Electromyographies, Surface,Electromyography, Surface,Surface Electromyographies
D005080 Exercise Test Controlled physical activity which is performed in order to allow assessment of physiological functions, particularly cardiovascular and pulmonary, but also aerobic capacity. Maximal (most intense) exercise is usually required but submaximal exercise is also used. Arm Ergometry Test,Bicycle Ergometry Test,Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing,Exercise Testing,Step Test,Stress Test,Treadmill Test,Cardiopulmonary Exercise Test,EuroFit Tests,Eurofit Test Battery,European Fitness Testing Battery,Fitness Testing,Physical Fitness Testing,Arm Ergometry Tests,Bicycle Ergometry Tests,Cardiopulmonary Exercise Tests,Ergometry Test, Arm,Ergometry Test, Bicycle,Ergometry Tests, Arm,Ergometry Tests, Bicycle,EuroFit Test,Eurofit Test Batteries,Exercise Test, Cardiopulmonary,Exercise Testing, Cardiopulmonary,Exercise Tests,Exercise Tests, Cardiopulmonary,Fitness Testing, Physical,Fitness Testings,Step Tests,Stress Tests,Test Battery, Eurofit,Test, Arm Ergometry,Test, Bicycle Ergometry,Test, Cardiopulmonary Exercise,Test, EuroFit,Test, Exercise,Test, Step,Test, Stress,Test, Treadmill,Testing, Cardiopulmonary Exercise,Testing, Exercise,Testing, Fitness,Testing, Physical Fitness,Tests, Arm Ergometry,Tests, Bicycle Ergometry,Tests, Cardiopulmonary Exercise,Tests, EuroFit,Tests, Exercise,Tests, Step,Tests, Stress,Tests, Treadmill,Treadmill Tests
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D013933 Thumb The first digit on the radial side of the hand which in humans lies opposite the other four. Thumbs
D014836 Volition Voluntary activity without external compulsion. Will
D018482 Muscle, Skeletal A subtype of striated muscle, attached by TENDONS to the SKELETON. Skeletal muscles are innervated and their movement can be consciously controlled. They are also called voluntary muscles. Anterior Tibial Muscle,Gastrocnemius Muscle,Muscle, Voluntary,Plantaris Muscle,Skeletal Muscle,Soleus Muscle,Muscle, Anterior Tibial,Muscle, Gastrocnemius,Muscle, Plantaris,Muscle, Soleus,Muscles, Skeletal,Muscles, Voluntary,Skeletal Muscles,Tibial Muscle, Anterior,Voluntary Muscle,Voluntary Muscles

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