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Isometric and Eccentric Force Generation Assessment of Skeletal Muscles Isolated from Murine Models of Muscular Dystrophies
Published on: January 31, 2013
Neuromuscular dysfunction with the experimental arm acting as its own reference following eccentric and isometric
Anastassios Philippou1, Gregory C Bogdanis, Maria Maridaki
1Department of Sports Medicine & Biology of Physical Activity, Faculty of Physical Education & Sport Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Somatosensory & Motor Research
|June 18, 2010
Summary
Eccentric exercise impairs muscle proprioception and motor control when the exercised limb acts as its own reference. This leads to overestimating force and underestimating joint position, suggesting a central motor command mismatch.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Neuromuscular Function
- Proprioception
Background:
- Eccentric exercise is a common model for studying muscle damage and neuromuscular impairment.
- Previous research primarily used bilateral tasks, neglecting proprioception when the exercised limb serves as its own reference.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate muscle proprioception and motor control following eccentric exercise, with the arm acting as both reference and indicator.
- To compare these effects with those following isometric exercise.
Main Methods:
- Fourteen young males were divided into eccentric and isometric exercise groups.
- Elbow flexor muscles of the non-dominant arm were exercised on an isokinetic dynamometer.
- Muscle soreness, range of motion, maximal isometric force, force perception, and joint position perception were assessed post-exercise.
Main Results:
- Both exercise types caused muscle damage (soreness, reduced ROM, decreased force) and affected neuromuscular function.
- Force perception was impaired for 4 days post-exercise, with systematic overestimation of applied force.
- Joint position perception was disturbed (underestimated) at one elbow angle on day 4.
Conclusions:
- Eccentric and isometric exercise similarly impact muscle damage and neuromuscular function.
- Impaired proprioception and motor control, observed when the limb is its own reference, may stem from a central motor command mismatch with impaired motor control post-muscle damage.
