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Gago, P., Arndt, A., Marques, M. C., Marinho, D. A. & Ekblom, M. (2019). Effects of post activation potentiation on electromechanical delay. Clinical Biomechanics, 70, 115-122
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Effects of post activation potentiation on electromechanical delay
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2019 (English)In: Clinical Biomechanics, ISSN 0268-0033, E-ISSN 1879-1271, Vol. 70, p. 115-122Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Electromechanical delay (EMD) presumably depends upon both contractile and tensile factors. It has recently been used as an indirect measure of muscle tendon stiffness to study adaptations to stretching and training. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether contractile properties induced by a 6 s maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) could affect EMD without altering passive muscle tendon stiffness or stiffness index. Plantar flexor twitches were evoked via electrical stimulation of the tibial nerve in eight highly trained male sprinters before and after a 6 s MVIC in passive isometric or passively shortening or lengthening muscles. For each twitch, EMD, twitch contractile properties and SOLM-Wave were measured. Passive muscle tendon stiffness was measured from the slope of the relation between torque and ankle angle during controlled passive dorsal flexion and stiffness index by curve-fitting the torque angle data using a second-order polynomial function. EMD did not differ between isometric, lengthening or shortening movements. EMD was reduced by up to 11.56 ± 5.64% immediately after the MVIC and stayed depressed for up to 60 s after conditioning. Peak twitch torque and rate of torque development were potentiated by up to 119.41 ± 37.15% and 116.06 ± 37.39%, respectively. Rising time was reduced by up to 14.46 ± 7.22%. No significant changes occurred in passive muscle tendon stiffness or stiffness index. Using a conditioning MVIC, it was shown that there was an acute enhancement of contractile muscle properties as well as a significant reduction in EMD with no corresponding changes in stiffness. Therefore, caution should be taken when using and interpreting EMD as a proxy for muscle tendon stiffness.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier, 2019
Keywords
Muscle, Twitch, Potentiation, Electromechanical delay, Stiffness
National Category
Physiology
Research subject
Medicine/Technology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:gih:diva-5820 (URN)10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2019.08.001 (DOI)000506468800018 ()31476603 (PubMedID)
Note

At the time of Paulo Gago's dissertation this article was a manuscript.

Available from: 2019-08-27 Created: 2019-08-27 Last updated: 2021-04-13Bibliographically approved
Gago, P. (2016). Post activation potentiation: Modulating factors and mechanisms for muscle performance. (Doctoral dissertation). Stockholm: Gymnastik och idrottshögskolan, GIH
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Post activation potentiation: Modulating factors and mechanisms for muscle performance
2016 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Introduction: Acute enhancements of muscle contractile properties and performance subsequent to a maximal or near maximal conditioning contraction are often termed post activation potentiation (PAP). Although still controversial, PAP is commonly linked to enhancements in the myosin regulatory light chain phosphorylation, leading to improvements in the excitation–contraction coupling. The PAP seen after a conditioning task often coexists with fatigue and is known to depend on strength level, muscle fiber type and age. Less is known about how factors such as static and dynamic changes in muscle length affect PAP, and on the relative contribution of contractile and tensile components to PAP.

Aim: To enhance our understanding of how, and under what conditions, a single maximal isometric contraction affects plantar flexor muscle contractile performance, and other muscle tendon properties, in power athletes.

Methods: Supramaximal twitches were evoked via electrical stimulation of the tibial nerve of athletes before and on several occasions after a 6-second maximal voluntary isometric contraction (6-s MVIC) in both static muscle, and during passive muscle lengthening and shorting at different angular velocities. Several contractile variables were measured from the twitches. The effects of a 6-s MVIC on Achilles tendon stiffness was calculated from torque and ultrasonography based measurements of tendon length at two submaximal contraction intensities. Overall stiffness index was calculated by analyzing the passive lengthening torque/angle curve.Results: A single MVIC enhanced muscle contractile properties and electromechanical delay for up to 5 minutes. Plantar flexor twitch variables such as peak twitch, rate of torque development and rate of torque relaxation were enhanced during shortening compared to lengthening muscle actions, and in an extended as compared to a flexed knee position. Achilles tendon stiffness and overall stiffness index were not significantly modulated by a single 6-s MVIC.

Conclusion: The results of this thesis imply that functional enhancements from a 6-s conditioning MVIC would mainly come from improvements in contractile rather than tensile components. Stiffness changes should be monitored in future PAP-related studies since they may still occur after more extensive conditioning protocols than the current one. Improvements in contractile components subserving muscle strength after a conditioning MVIC suggests that enhancements in muscle power after a conditioning task should be greatest in fast concentric muscle actions, though still present in muscle lengthening. Conditioning should be performed in a position where full activation is easy to achieve and tailored to mach an athlete or group of athlete’s current status and characteristics, maximizing performance in a specific sport event.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Stockholm: Gymnastik och idrottshögskolan, GIH, 2016. p. 53
Series
Avhandlingsserie för Gymnastik- och idrottshögskolan ; 04
Keywords
Potentiation, twitch, triceps surae, knee angle, stiffnes, length changes, electromechanical delay
National Category
Sport and Fitness Sciences
Research subject
Medicine/Technology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:gih:diva-4280 (URN)978-91-980862-4-9 (ISBN)
Public defence
2016-02-02, Aulan, Gymnastik- och idrottshögskolan, Lidingövägen 1, Stockholm, 12:30 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Projects
Doctoral project: Post activation potentiation - Modulating factors and mechanisms for muscle performance.
Note

The project recived financial support from the Swedish National Centre for Research in Sports (CIF). Paulo Gago also wishes to thank the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal for the Ph.D. Grant (SFRH/BD/103572/2014).

New version 2015-01-25 updates the previous one by correcting the errors described in the correction list file (errata).

Available from: 2016-01-07 Created: 2015-12-31 Last updated: 2016-02-11Bibliographically approved
Gago, P., Marques, M. C., Marinho, D. A. & Ekblom, M. M. (2014). Passive Muscle Length Changes Affect Twitch Potentiation in Power Athletes.. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 46(7), 1334-1342
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Passive Muscle Length Changes Affect Twitch Potentiation in Power Athletes.
2014 (English)In: Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, ISSN 0195-9131, E-ISSN 1530-0315, Vol. 46, no 7, p. 1334-1342Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

INTRODUCTION: A conditioning maximal voluntary muscle action (MVC) has been shown to induce post-activation potentiation, i.e. improved contractile muscle properties, when muscles are contracted isometrically. It is still uncertain how the contractile properties are affected during ongoing muscle length changes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a 6 s conditioning MVC on twitch properties of the plantar flexors during ongoing muscle length changes.

METHODS: Peak twitch, rate of torque development (RTD) and relaxation (RTR), rising time and half relaxation time (HRT) were measured from supramaximal twitches evoked in the plantar flexors of 11 highly trained athletes. Twitches were evoked prior to a 6 s MVC and subsequently on 8 different occasions during a 10-minute recovery, for five different modes: fast lengthening, slow lengthening, isometric, fast shortening and slow shortening of the plantar flexors.

RESULTS: The magnitude and duration of effects from the conditioning MVC were significantly different between modes. Peak twitch, RTD and RTR significantly increased for all modes but more so for twitches evoked during fast and slow shortening as compared to lengthening. Rising time was reduced in the lengthening modes, but slightly prolonged in the shortening modes. HRT was significantly reduced for all modes except fast lengthening.

CONCLUSION: The findings show that the effects of a conditioning MVC on twitch contractile properties are dependent on direction and velocity of ongoing muscle length changes. This may imply that functional enhancements from a conditioning MVC might be expected to be greatest for concentric muscle actions, but are still present in isometric and eccentric parts of a movement.

National Category
Sport and Fitness Sciences
Research subject
Medicine/Technology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:gih:diva-3193 (URN)10.1249/MSS.0000000000000245 (DOI)24389516 (PubMedID)
Funder
Swedish National Centre for Research in Sports
Available from: 2014-01-13 Created: 2014-01-13 Last updated: 2017-12-06Bibliographically approved
Gago, P., Arndt, A., Tarassova, O. & Ekblom, M. M. (2014). Post activation potentiation can be induced without impairing tendon stiffness.. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 114(11), 2299-2308
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Post activation potentiation can be induced without impairing tendon stiffness.
2014 (English)In: European Journal of Applied Physiology, ISSN 1439-6319, E-ISSN 1439-6327, Vol. 114, no 11, p. 2299-2308Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate conditioning effects from a single 6-s plantar flexion maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) on Achilles tendon stiffness (ATS) and twitch properties of the triceps surae in athletes.

METHODS: Peak twitch (PT), rate of torque development (RTD), rising time (RT10-90%) and half relaxation time (HRT) were measured from supramaximal twitches evoked in the plantar flexors of 10 highly trained athletes. Twitches were evoked before and at seven occasions during 10 min of recovery after a 6-s MVIC. In a second session, but at identical post-conditioning time points, ATS was measured at 30 and 50 % of MVIC (ATS30% and ATS50%) using an ultrasonography-based method.

RESULTS: The magnitude and duration of the conditioning MVIC on muscle contractile properties were in accordance with previous literature on post activation potentiation (PAP), i.e., high potentiation immediately after MVIC, with significant PAP for up to 3 min after the MVIC. While PT and RTD were significantly enhanced (by 60.6 ± 19.3 and 90.1 ± 22.5 %, respectively) and RT10-90% and HRT were reduced (by 10.1 ± 7.7 and 18.7 ± 5.6 %, respectively) after conditioning, ATS remained unaffected.

CONCLUSIONS: Previous studies have suggested that changes in stiffness after conditioning may interfere with the enhancements in twitch contractile properties. The present study, however, provided some evidence that twitch enhancements after a standard PAP can be induced without changes in ATS. This result may suggest that athletes can use this protocol to enhance muscle contractile properties without performance deficits due to changes in ATS.

National Category
Physiology
Research subject
Medicine/Technology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:gih:diva-3457 (URN)10.1007/s00421-014-2945-3 (DOI)25048072 (PubMedID)
Funder
Swedish National Centre for Research in Sports
Available from: 2014-09-22 Created: 2014-09-22 Last updated: 2018-01-11Bibliographically approved
Gago, P., Arndt, T., Tarassova, O. & Ekblom, M. (2014). Post activation potentiation electromechanical delay and achilles tendon stiffness in athletes. In: : . Paper presented at Idrottsmedicinskt vårmöte, Stockholm 8-10 maj 2014.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Post activation potentiation electromechanical delay and achilles tendon stiffness in athletes
2014 (English)Conference paper, Oral presentation with published abstract (Refereed)
National Category
Medical and Health Sciences
Research subject
Medicine/Technology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:gih:diva-3918 (URN)
Conference
Idrottsmedicinskt vårmöte, Stockholm 8-10 maj 2014
Available from: 2015-06-30 Created: 2015-06-30 Last updated: 2016-08-09Bibliographically approved
Gago, P., Arndt, T., Tarrassova, O. & Ekblom, M. (2013). Post activation potentiation and Achilles tendon stiffness in power athletes. In: : . Paper presented at 18th annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science. 26th - 29th June 2013, Barcelona Spain. "Unifying sport science".
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Post activation potentiation and Achilles tendon stiffness in power athletes
2013 (English)Conference paper, Oral presentation with published abstract (Refereed)
National Category
Other Medical Sciences
Research subject
Medicine/Technology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:gih:diva-3916 (URN)
Conference
18th annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science. 26th - 29th June 2013, Barcelona Spain. "Unifying sport science"
Available from: 2015-06-30 Created: 2015-06-30 Last updated: 2016-08-09Bibliographically approved
Ekblom, M. M. & Gago, P. (2013). Post activation potentiation of the plantar flexors at different knee angles. In: : . Paper presented at 18th annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science. 26th - 29th June 2013, Barcelona Spain. "Unifying sport science".
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Post activation potentiation of the plantar flexors at different knee angles
2013 (English)Conference paper, Oral presentation with published abstract (Refereed)
National Category
Other Medical Sciences
Research subject
Medicine/Technology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:gih:diva-3915 (URN)
Conference
18th annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science. 26th - 29th June 2013, Barcelona Spain. "Unifying sport science"
Available from: 2015-06-30 Created: 2015-06-30 Last updated: 2016-04-01Bibliographically approved
Gago, P., Marques, M., Marinho, D. & Ekblom, M. (2012). Passive muscle length changes affects twitch potentiation in power athletes. In: Håvard Wiig et al (Ed.), 8th International Conference on Strength Training: Book of abstracts. Paper presented at The 8th International Conference on Strength Training, Oslo, Norway, 24th-28th October 2012 (pp. 212-213).
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Passive muscle length changes affects twitch potentiation in power athletes
2012 (English)In: 8th International Conference on Strength Training: Book of abstracts / [ed] Håvard Wiig et al, 2012, p. 212-213Conference paper, Published paper (Refereed)
National Category
Sport and Fitness Sciences
Research subject
Medicine/Technology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:gih:diva-2505 (URN)
Conference
The 8th International Conference on Strength Training, Oslo, Norway, 24th-28th October 2012
Available from: 2012-11-23 Created: 2012-11-23 Last updated: 2016-04-01Bibliographically approved
Gago, P., Arndt, A., Marques, M., Marinho, D. & Ekblom, M.Effects of post activation potentiation on electromechanical delay.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Effects of post activation potentiation on electromechanical delay
Show others...
(English)Manuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
Keywords
Muscle; Twitch; Potentiation; Electromechanical delay; Stiffness
National Category
Sport and Fitness Sciences
Research subject
Medicine/Technology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:gih:diva-4278 (URN)
Projects
Doctoral project - Post activation potentiation-Modulating factors and mechanisms for muscle performance.
Funder
Swedish National Centre for Research in Sports
Note

At the time of Paulo Gago's disertation the article was submitted.

The authors wish to acknowledge the financial support from the Swedish National Centre for Research in Sports (CIF). Paulo Gago also wishes to thank the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal for the Ph.D. Grant (SFRH/BD/103572/2014).

Available from: 2015-12-31 Created: 2015-12-31 Last updated: 2019-08-27Bibliographically approved
Gago, P., Arndt, A. & Ekblom, M.Influence of knee angle on plantarflexor post activation potentiation.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Influence of knee angle on plantarflexor post activation potentiation
(English)Manuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
Keywords
Potentiation; twitch; electrical stimulation; triceps surae; knee angle.
National Category
Sport and Fitness Sciences
Research subject
Medicine/Technology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:gih:diva-4277 (URN)
Projects
Doctoral project - Post activation potentiation -Modulating factors and mechanisms for muscle performance.
Funder
Swedish National Centre for Research in Sports
Note

At the time of Paulo Gago's dissertation the article was submitted.

The authors wish to acknowledge the financial support from the Swedish National Centre for Research in Sports (CIF). Paulo Gago also wishes to thank the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal for the Ph.D. Grant (SFRH/BD/103572/2014).

Available from: 2015-12-31 Created: 2015-12-31 Last updated: 2016-04-13Bibliographically approved
Organisations
Identifiers
ORCID iD: ORCID iD iconorcid.org/0000-0002-8580-6518

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