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Cited by 104Muscle Physiology and DisordersSpaceflight effects on biologyMuscle activation and electromyography studies

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 77 of the 77 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Effect of Immobilisation on Neuromuscular Function In Vivo in Humans: A Systematic Review

Open access
Campbell, Matthew, Varley-Campbell, Jo, Fulford, Jon, Taylor, Bryan, Mileva, Katya N., Bowtell, Joanna L.·2019·Sports Medicine
DOI 10.1007/s40279-019-01088-8PMC PMC6548068
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Muscle strength loss following immobilisation has been predominantly attributed to rapid muscle atrophy. However, this cannot fully explain the magnitude of muscle strength loss, so changes in neuromuscular function (NMF) may be involved. OBJECTIVES: We systematically reviewed literature that quantified changes in muscle strength, size and NMF following periods of limb immobilisation in vivo in humans. METHODS: Studies were identified following systematic searches, assessed for inclusion, data extracted and quality appraised by two reviewers. Data were tabulated and reported narratively. RESULTS: Forty eligible studies were included, 22 immobilised lower and 18 immobilised upper limbs. Limb immobilisation ranged from 12 h to 56 days. Isometric muscle strength and muscle size declined following immobilisation; however, change magnitude was greater for strength than size. Evoked resting twitch force decreased for lower but increased for upper limbs. Rate of force development either remained unchanged or slowed for lower and typically slowed for upper limbs. Twitch relaxation rate slowed for both lower and upper limbs. Central motor drive typically decreased for both locations, while electromyography amplitude during maximum voluntary contractions decreased for the lower and presented mixed findings for the upper limbs. Trends imply faster rates of NMF loss relative to size earlier in immobilisation periods for all outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Limb immobilisation results in non-uniform loss of isometric muscle strength, size and NMF over time. Different outcomes between upper and lower limbs could be attributed to higher degrees of central neural control of upper limb musculature. Future research should focus on muscle function losses and mechanisms following acute immobilisation. REGISTRATION: PROSPERO reference: CRD42016033692.

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Figures

Fig. 1 PRISMA flow diagram
Fig. 1 PRISMA flow diagramCC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 2 Summary of immobilisation methods and body segments. N/R not reported
Fig. 2 Summary of immobilisation methods and body segments. N/R not reportedCC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 3 Summary of methods used in the studies to evaluate neuromuscular function. EMG electromyography, N/R not reported
Fig. 3 Summary of methods used in the studies to evaluate neuromuscular function. EMG electromyography, N/R not reportedCC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 4 Muscle strength and muscle size change per day. Muscle strength changes are shown as open circles, muscle size changes as closed diamonds
Fig. 4 Muscle strength and muscle size change per day. Muscle strength changes are shown as open circles, muscle size changes as closed diamondsCC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 5 Muscle strength and resting twitch force change per day. Muscle strength changes are shown as open circles, resting twitch force changes as closed diamonds
Fig. 5 Muscle strength and resting twitch force change per day. Muscle strength changes are shown as open circles, resting twitch force changes as closed diamondsCC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 6 Muscle strength and rate of force development change per day (a) and muscle strength and rate of force relaxation change per day (b). Muscle strength changes are shown as open circles, force development or relaxation changes as closed diamonds
Fig. 6 Muscle strength and rate of force development change per day (a) and muscle strength and rate of force relaxation change per day (b). Muscle strength changes are shown as open circles, force development or relaxation changes as closed diamondsCC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 7 Muscle strength and central drive change per day. Muscle strength changes are shown as open circles, central drive changes as closed diamonds
Fig. 7 Muscle strength and central drive change per day. Muscle strength changes are shown as open circles, central drive changes as closed diamondsCC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 8 Muscle strength and EMG change per day (a), muscle strength and Mwave amplitude change per day (b), muscle strength and motor evoked potential change per day (c), muscle strength and maximal Hoffman reflex amplitude change per day (d). Muscle strength changes are shown as open circles, other variables as closed diamonds. EMG electromyography
Fig. 8 Muscle strength and EMG change per day (a), muscle strength and Mwave amplitude change per day (b), muscle strength and motor evoked potential change per day (c), muscle strength and maximal Hoffman reflex amplitude change per day (d). Muscle strength changes are shown as open circles, other variables as closed diamonds. EMG electromyographyCC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 9 Correlation between muscle strength and size change per day (a), muscle strength and resting twitch force (b), muscle strength and central drive (c), muscle strength and EMG (d). Lower limb values are shown as circles with a solid line, upper limb values as squares with a dotted line. Significant correlations are indicated with an asterisk (*). EMG electromyography
Fig. 9 Correlation between muscle strength and size change per day (a), muscle strength and resting twitch force (b), muscle strength and central drive (c), muscle strength and EMG (d). Lower limb values are shown as circles with a solid line, upper limb values as squares with a dotted line. Significant correlations are indicated with an asterisk (*). EMG electromyographyCC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 10 Box plot graph showing the minimum, first quartile, median, third quartile and maximum of the immobilisation-induced changes per day of the investigated measures for strength, muscle size and neuromuscular function presented individually for lower (bottom panel) and upper (top panel) limb. Values shown are median/range. Amp amplitude, EMG electromyography, Hmax Hoffman reflex, MEP motor-evoked potential, n number
Fig. 10 Box plot graph showing the minimum, first quartile, median, third quartile and maximum of the immobilisation-induced changes per day of the investigated measures for strength, muscle size and neuromuscular function presented individually for lower (bottom panel) and upper (top panel) limb. Values shown are median/range. Amp amplitude, EMG electromyography, Hmax Hoffman reflex, MEP motor-evoked potential, n numberCC BY · PubMed Central

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Metadata

Authors
Campbell, M., Varley-Campbell, J., Fulford, J., Taylor, B., Mileva, K. N., & Bowtell, J. L.
Affiliations
  • University of Exeter (GB)
  • University of Leeds (GB)
  • London South Bank University (GB)
Corresponding author
Campbell, Matthew
ORCID
Venue
Sports Medicine
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2019-03-21
Volume
49
Issue
6
Pages
931-950
ISSN
  • 0112-1642 (ISSN-L)
  • 1179-2035
DOI
10.1007/s40279-019-01088-8
PMC
PMC6548068
OpenAlex
W2923239346
Cited by
94
References
77
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 17
FWCI
0.84
Type
journal article
Language
en
Update notices
correction (2019-04-04)
Open access
Licence
  • cc-by
  • creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 (tdm)
Locations
  • Sports Medicine (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Open (London South Bank University) (acceptedVersion)
  • Research Open (London South Bank University) (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
  • Open Research Exeter (University of Exeter) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Muscle Physiology and Disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology (medical) › Spaceflight effects on biology
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Muscle activation and electromyography studies
Keywords
neuromuscular function, muscle strength decline, muscle atrophy, muscle size, rate of force development, upper limb, lower extremity, disuse
MeSH terms
Electromyography, Humans, Immobilization, Muscle Contraction, Muscular Atrophy, Organ Size, Reflex, Muscle, Skeletal, Evoked Potentials, Motor, Upper Extremity, Lower Extremity, Muscle Strength

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