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Examination of a neural cross-over effect using resting mechanomyographic mean frequency from the vastus lateralis muscle in different resting positions following aerobic exercise

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Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the potential neural cross-over effect between the vastus lateralis muscles in different postural resting positions.

Methods

Subjects exercised on an upright cycle ergometer, using only their dominate leg, for 2 min at 30 % VO2 peak. Following this warm-up, subjects then cycled (still using only their dominant leg) for 30 min at 60 % VO2 peak. After the aerobic phase, subjects cooled down (again, using only their dominant leg) for 2 min at 30 % VO2 peak. Resting mechanomyography mean frequency was measured prior to and following aerobic exercise.

Results

There was an approximate 6.3 ± 6.8 and a 10 ± 5.1 % increase (upright sitting position with the subject’s knee joint angle fixed at 180°); an approximate 7 ± 6.6 and a 16.1 ± 6.5 % increase (upright sitting position with the subject’s knee joint angle fixed at 90°); an approximate 0.5 ± 6.8 and 3.7 ± 5.6 % increase (lying supine position with the subject’s knee joint angle fixed at 180°); and an approximately 2 ± 8.3 and 2.5 ± 8.6 % increase (lying supine position with the subject’s knee joint angle fixed at 90°) in normalized mechanomyography mean frequency after aerobic exercise for the dominant and non-dominate vastus lateralis muscles, respectfully.

Conclusion

There appears to be a statistically significant neural cross-over effect for the vastus lateralis muscle, during three of the four postural resting positions, with the non-dominant vastus lateralis muscle having a greater increase in mechanomyography mean frequency.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

EMG:

Electromyography

MMG:

Mechanomyography

MNF:

Mean frequency

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Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the subjects that participated and thank them for their time and effort.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health and Exercise Science, University of Oklahoma, 1401 Asp Avenue, Room 104, Norman, OK, 73019, USA

    Nathan P. Wages, Travis W. Beck, Xin Ye & Joshua C. Carr

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  1. Nathan P. Wages
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  2. Travis W. Beck
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  3. Xin Ye
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Correspondence to Nathan P. Wages.

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Wages, N.P., Beck, T.W., Ye, X. et al. Examination of a neural cross-over effect using resting mechanomyographic mean frequency from the vastus lateralis muscle in different resting positions following aerobic exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol 116, 919–929 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-016-3351-9

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