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Signal intensity of MR-images of thigh muscles following acute open- and closed chain kinetic knee extensor exercise – index of muscle use

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Abstract

Exercise-induced shifts in signal intensity (SI) of magnetic resonance (MR) images were examined to assess indirectly muscle use in closed- and open-chain knee extensor exercises. Eight men performed five sets of 8–12 repetitions in the leg press (LP) and the seated knee extension (KE) exercises at 50, 75 and 100%, respectively of the 5×10 repetition maximum (RM) load. Prior to exercise and after each load setting, images of the thigh were obtained. The increase in SI (Δ SI) of the quadriceps at 100% load was greater (P<0.05) after KE (32.1±9.0%) than after LP (21.9±9.2%). Regardless of load, the four individual muscles of the quadriceps showed similar changes in SI after LP. The three vastii muscles showed comparable increases in SI after KE. M. rectus femoris showed greater (P<0.05) Δ SI than the vastii muscles at 100%. Neither exercise produced increase in SI of mm. semimembranosus, semitendinosus, gracilis or biceps femoris. Mm. adductor magnus and longus showed increased (13.3±6.5%; P<0.05) SI after LP, but not after KE, at 100% load. The present data also infer greater involvement of the quadriceps muscle in the open-chain knee extension than in the closed-chain leg press exercise. The results of the current investigation also indicate similar over-all use among the three vastii muscles in LP and KE, but differential m. rectus femoris use between the two exercises. This report extends the merits of the MR imaging technique as an aid to study individual muscle involvement in a particular exercise task.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Swedish National Center for Research in Sports (CIF). The technical assistance by Lena Norrbrand is acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section for Muscle and Exercise Physiology, Department of Physiology& Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, SE 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden

    A.G. Enocson, H.E. Berg & P.A. Tesch

  2. Department of Radiology, Karolinska Hospital, SE 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden

    R. Vargas

  3. Department of Medical Radiology Hötorget, SE 133 37, Stockholm, Sweden

    G. Jenner

Authors
  1. A.G. Enocson
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  2. H.E. Berg
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  3. R. Vargas
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  4. G. Jenner
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  5. P.A. Tesch
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Correspondence to P.A. Tesch.

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Enocson, A., Berg, H., Vargas, R. et al. Signal intensity of MR-images of thigh muscles following acute open- and closed chain kinetic knee extensor exercise – index of muscle use. Eur J Appl Physiol 94, 357–363 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-005-1339-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-005-1339-y

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