Eccentric exercise does not affect common drive in the biceps brachii
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Updated: May 19, 2026

Isometric and Eccentric Force Generation Assessment of Skeletal Muscles Isolated from Murine Models of Muscular Dystrophies
Published on: January 31, 2013
Travis W Beck1, Paul R Kasishke, Matt S Stock
1Department of Health and Exercise Science, University of Oklahoma, 110 Huston Huffman Center, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, USA. tbeck@ou.edu
Introduction:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of eccentric exercise on common drive.
Methods:
Eleven men, age 23.6 ± 2.1 (mean ± SD) years, performed trapezoid isometric muscle actions of the dominant forearm flexors immediately before and after 1 of 2 interventions: (a) 6 sets of 10 maximal eccentric isokinetic muscle actions of the forearm flexors; or (b) 10 minutes of quiet resting. Surface electromyographic signals were recorded from the biceps brachii and decomposed into individual motor unit action potential trains. Mean firing rate patterns were calculated for each motor unit, and all possible combinations were cross-correlated to measure common drive.
Results:
The peak cross-correlation coefficients were generally in the 0.2-0.5 range and occasionally as high as 0.7.
Conclusion:
These coefficients were not, however, affected by the eccentric exercise, despite a 19.5% decrease in strength, indicating that the eccentric exercise did not affect common drive. Muscle Nerve, 2012.
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