Compound Muscle Action Potential Parameters of the Extensor Digitorum Brevis in Sprinters and Sedentary Individuals:...

Area of Science:

• Neuromuscular Physiology
• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Compound muscle action potential (CMAP) parameters offer objective insights into peripheral neuromuscular function.
• Limited research compares CMAP parameters between track athletes and sedentary individuals, especially when stratified by sex.
• This study addresses the gap by comparing CMAP in sprinters versus sedentary controls.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate differences in CMAP parameters between track sprinters and sedentary individuals, stratified by sex.
• To conduct a secondary descriptive analysis of female middle-distance runners.
• To explore potential sex-based neuromuscular adaptations to athletic training.

Main Methods:

• Convenience sampling of 48 participants (15-28 years) from an athletic population.
• Bilateral peroneal nerve conduction studies in the extensor digitorum brevis.
• Statistical analysis included Welch's t-tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and BMI-adjusted models.

Main Results:

• Female sprinters demonstrated significantly higher right-sided CMAP amplitude compared to sedentary females (p=0.017).
• This finding remained significant after adjusting for Body Mass Index (BMI).
• No other significant differences were observed in CMAP parameters between groups or in males.

Conclusions:

• Female sprinters exhibit elevated CMAP amplitude compared to sedentary controls, suggesting potential neuromuscular adaptations.
• The observed difference is robust across parametric, non-parametric, and BMI-adjusted analyses.
• Findings are preliminary due to the exploratory nature and small sample size, necessitating replication in larger cohorts.