Transcranial magnetic stimulation during resistance training of the tibialis anterior muscle.

Full Abstract

During the first few weeks of resistance training, maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) force increases at a faster rate than can be accounted for by increases in protein synthesis. This early increase in MVC force has been attributed to neural mechanisms but the sources have not been identified. The purpose of this study was to measure changes in cortical excitability with transcranial magnetic stimulation during 4 weeks of resistance training of the tibialis anterior muscle. Ten individuals performed 6 sets of 10 MVCs 3 times per week for 4 weeks and ten participated as a control group. There were no changes in any parameters tested in the control group over the 4 weeks. In the training group, TA muscle strength increased significantly by 10% at week 2 and by 18% at week 4. As hypothesized, cortical excitability during resistance training also increased. The amplitude of the TA surface EMG motor evoked potential elicited by TMS during a low-level contraction increased by 32% after training with no change in the M-wave. These data indicate that there may be an increase in cortical excitability during the first few weeks of resistance training of the TA muscle.

Author information

Author/s: Griffin, L (L); Cafarelli, E (E);

Affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA. l.griffin(-atsign-)mail.utexas.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Journal of electromyography and kinesiology : official journal of the International Society of Electrophysiological Kinesiology (J Electromyogr Kinesiol), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2007-Aug; vol 17 (issue 4) : pp 446-52

Dates: Created 2007/06/11; Completed 2007/08/15;

PMID: 16891123, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: 18 Feb 2009 00:00:00)

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