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Related Concept Videos

Motor Unit Stimulation01:20

Motor 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...
Muscle Stimulation Frequency01:22

Muscle Stimulation Frequency

The contraction strength of muscles is regulated by motor neurons, which modulate the frequency of action potentials dispatched to the motor units based on the body's requirements. This process of varying the muscle stimulation frequency allows muscles to contract with a force that is precisely tailored to the needs of the moment, whether lifting a feather or a heavy box.
Wave summation
At low firing rates, motor neurons induce individual twitch contractions in muscle fibers. These twitches...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Assessment of Neuromuscular Function Using Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
07:53

Assessment of Neuromuscular Function Using Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation

Published on: September 13, 2015

Effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on Achilles tendon load.

João Luiz Quagliotti Durigan1,2, Andy K Smith3,2, Jack T Felipe4

  • 1Laboratory of Muscle and Tendon Plasticity, Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.

Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)
|June 24, 2026
PubMed
Summary

Achilles tendon loading during voluntary and NMES-evoked contractions was similar, even with lower torque during NMES. This suggests tendon load may not directly correlate with voluntary plantarflexion torque.

Keywords:
Achilles tendonelectrical stimulationloadmuscle contractionrehabilitation

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Area of Science:

  • Biomechanics
  • Musculoskeletal Physiology
  • Rehabilitation Science

Background:

  • Tendon loading is crucial for assessing tendon health and performance.
  • Comparing voluntary and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) can inform rehabilitation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare Achilles tendon loading during voluntary plantarflexion (PF) and NMES-evoked contractions.
  • To investigate the relationship between torque production and tendon load during different contraction types.

Main Methods:

  • Twenty healthy participants performed ankle PF under four conditions: maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), maximal NMES-evoked contraction (ESTIM), 20% MVIC voluntary contraction (VOL20), and 20% MVIC NMES-evoked contraction (ESTIM20).
  • Achilles tendon loading was assessed using shear wave tensiometry.
  • Torque was measured using a dynamometer.

Main Results:

  • MVIC produced the highest torque, followed by ESTIM, VOL20, and ESTIM20.
  • Normalized shear wave speeds (indicating tendon loading) were not significantly different between MVIC and ESTIM.
  • Tendon loading was similar between VOL20 and ESTIM20, despite torque differences.

Conclusions:

  • Achilles tendon loading did not differ between maximal voluntary and NMES-evoked contractions despite lower torque with NMES.
  • At 20% of maximal torque, tendon loading was comparable between voluntary and NMES-evoked contractions.
  • Findings challenge the assumption of a direct proportional relationship between plantarflexion torque and Achilles tendon load.