Effects of differently induced stretch loads on neuromuscular control in drop jump exercise

The neuromuscular characteristics of the triceps surae and vastus lateralis muscles and interactions between the pre-activation of these muscles and the muscle output itself during ground contact were investigated during various types of stretch-shortening cycle muscle loading. The loading of the muscles was effected by using three different types of drop jump exercise. These jumps allowed separate modifications of the loading of the leg extensor muscles by changing the velocity of the centre of gravity (CG) or by changing directly the body mass, which was also affected by changing artificially the acceleration of the CG. It was found that the eccentric peak angular velocity of the ankle joint was related to the various precontact and eccentric parameters in all the different types of jumping exercise. The correlations were higher for the gastrocnemius muscle (P < 0.001) than for the soleus muscle (n.s., P < 0.01). In all the experimental conditions, the pre-activation of the measured muscles started well before the impact of contact with the ground. However, the duration of the pre-activation phase depended on the type of stretch exercise. The results would suggest a clear interaction between the pre-activation of the muscles and that part of the muscle output which is effected by the segmental stretch reflex system. The control mechanism of the pre-activation itself appears to be multiple in character. It seems reasonable to assume that the pre-activation is preprogrammed, but which can, however, be modified by proprioceptive, vestibular and visual inputs. Thus, the possibility of conscious modification of the expected muscle load must be considered.