Journal of Sports Science and Medicine
Journal of Sports Science and Medicine
ISSN: 1303 - 2968   
Ios-APP Journal of Sports Science and Medicine
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©Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (2023) 22, 245 - 253   DOI: https://doi.org/10.52082/jssm.2023.245

Research article
Alternating or Bilateral Exercise Training does not Influence Force Control during Single-Leg Submaximal Contractions with the Dorsiflexors
Ivana Petrović1,2, Ioannis G. Amiridis1, , Ales Holobar3, Georgios Trypidakis1, Chrysostomos Sahinis1, Theodoros Kannas1, Eleftherios Kellis1, Roger M. Enoka4
Author Information
1 Laboratory of Neuromechanics, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences at Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
2 Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Niš, Serbia
3 Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Maribor, Slovenia
4 Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA

Ioannis G. Amiridis
✉ Laboratory of Neuromechanics, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences at Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Agios Ioannis, 62110 Serres, Greece
Email: jamoirid@phed-sr.auth.gr
Publish Date
Received: 07-02-2023
Accepted: 26-04-2023
Published (online): 01-06-2023
 
 
ABSTRACT

The aim of the study was to assess the influence of habitual training history on force steadiness and the discharge characteristics of motor units in tibialis anterior during submaximal isometric contractions. Fifteen athletes whose training emphasized alternating actions (11 runners and 4 cyclists) and fifteen athletes who relied on bilateral actions with leg muscles (7 volleyball players, 8 weight-lifters) performed 2 maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) with the dorsiflexors, and 3 steady contractions at 8 target forces (2.5%, 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50% and 60% MVC). The discharge characteristics of motor units in tibialis anterior were recorded using high-density electromyography grids. The MVC force and the absolute (standard deviation) and normalized (coefficient of variation) amplitudes of the force fluctuations at all target forces were similar between groups. The coefficient of variation for force decreased progressively from 2.5% to 20% MVC force, then it plateaued until 60% MVC force. Mean discharge rate of the motor units in tibialis anterior was similar at all target forces between groups. The variability in discharge times (coefficient of variation for interspike interval) and the variability in neural drive (coefficient of variation of filtered cumulative spike train) was also similar for the two groups. These results indicate that athletes who have trained with either alternating or bilateral actions with leg muscles has similar effects on maximal force, force control, and variability in the independent and common synaptic input during a single-limb isometric task with the dorsiflexors.

Key words: Training pattern, alternating contractions, bilateral contractions, force variability, motor unit, tibialis anterior


           Key Points
  • Training that involves either alternating or bilateral leg actions did not influence force control during single-leg contractions with the dorsiflexors.
  • The discharge characteristics of motor units in tibialis anterior during submaximal isometric contractions was similar between the two groups of athletes with different training histories.
  • The variability of the independent and the common synaptic inputs, as estimated from measures of variability in the discharge times of motor unit action potentials, increased with target force for both groups of participants.
 
 
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