Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 9, 2026
07:53
Assessment of Neuromuscular Function Using Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
Published on: September 13, 2015
Effect of short-term maximal voluntary co-contraction training on neuromuscular function
S Maeo1, Y Yoshitake2, Y Takai2
1National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya, Japan.
International Journal of Sports Medicine
|July 23, 2013
Summary
Short-term maximal voluntary co-contraction training enhanced muscle strength and agonist electromyogram (EMG) activity in young men. This training improved force generation without increasing involuntary coactivation during maximal voluntary contraction (MVC).
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Neuromuscular Adaptation
- Sports Science
Background:
- Understanding neuromuscular adaptations to specific training protocols is crucial for optimizing athletic performance and rehabilitation.
- Voluntary co-contraction, particularly with maximal efforts, has been explored for its potential to enhance muscle function.
- The effects of short-term, high-intensity co-contraction training on muscle strength and neural activation require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of a 4-week short-term training program involving maximal voluntary co-contraction on neuromuscular parameters.
- To assess changes in maximal voluntary isometric and isokinetic torques, muscle thickness, and electromyogram (EMG) activity.
- To determine if this training modality influences involuntary coactivation levels during maximal voluntary contraction (MVC).
Main Methods:
- A 4-week training intervention involving simultaneous maximal voluntary contractions of elbow flexors and extensors was conducted.
- Participants (n=23) were divided into a training group (TG) and a control group (CG).
- Measurements included maximal voluntary torques (isometric and isokinetic), muscle thickness, and EMG activity before and after the intervention.
Main Results:
- The training group (TG) exhibited significant increases in agonist EMG activity during MVC and maximal isometric and isokinetic torques for elbow flexors and extensors.
- No significant changes in muscle thickness or involuntary coactivation levels during MVC were observed in the TG.
- The control group (CG) showed no significant changes in any measured variables.
Conclusions:
- Maximal voluntary co-contraction training is an effective method for enhancing the force-generating capacity of muscles.
- This training approach improves muscle strength and neural activation without significantly increasing muscle size or involuntary coactivation.
- The findings suggest that voluntary co-contraction training can be a valuable tool for improving neuromuscular performance.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Motor Unit Stimulation
When the neuron of a motor unit fires an action potential, it triggers a series of events, leading to a twitch contraction in the muscle fibers. The process of excitation-contraction coupling is crucial in relaying the action potential to the muscle fibers.
The latent period of contraction marks the onset of excitation-contraction coupling, when the action potential propagates across the sarcolemma, preparing the muscle fibers for contraction. As the fibers enter the contraction phase, the...
The latent period of contraction marks the onset of excitation-contraction coupling, when the action potential propagates across the sarcolemma, preparing the muscle fibers for contraction. As the fibers enter the contraction phase, the...
01:27Exercise and Muscle Performance
Exercise induces a range of adaptations in muscle tissue, depending on the type and duration of activity. Such physical training can be broadly categorized into two types: endurance exercises and resistance exercises.
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
01:20Excitation-Contraction Coupling in Skeletal Muscles
Excitation-contraction coupling is a series of events that occur between generating an action potential and initiating a muscle contraction. It occurs at the triad, a structure found in skeletal muscle fibers that comprise a T-tubule and terminal cisternae of the sarcoplasmic reticulum on each side. These triads are visible in longitudinally sectioned muscle fibers. They are typically located at the A-I junction — the junction between the A and I bands of the sarcomere.
When an action potential...
When an action potential...