Maximal motor unit firing rates during isometric resistance training in men.
Open accessAbstract
This study measured changes in maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) force, percentage maximal activation, maximal surface EMG, M-wave amplitude and average motor unit firing rates during the initial 3 weeks of isometric resistance training of the quadriceps muscle. Ten men participated in a resistance training programme three times a week for 3 weeks and 10 men participated as a control group. In the training group, MVC increased by 35% (from 761 +/- 77 to 1031 +/- 78 N) by the end of the 3 weeks. There were no changes in mean motor unit firing rates during submaximal or maximal voluntary contractions of 50 (15.51 +/- 1.48 Hz), 75 (20.23 +/- 1.85 Hz) or 100% MVC (42.25 +/- 2.72 Hz) with isometric resistance training. There was also no change in maximal surface EMG relative to the M-wave amplitude. However, there was a small increase in maximal activation (from 95.7 +/- 1.83 to 98.44 +/- 0.66%) as measured by the twitch interpolation technique. There were no changes in any of the parameters measured in the control group. It is suggested that mechanisms other than increases in average motor unit firing rates contributed to the increase in maximal force output with resistance training. Such mechanisms may include a combination of increased motor unit recruitment, enhanced protein synthesis, and changes in motor unit synchronization and muscle activation patterns across the quadriceps synergy.
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Pucci et al. (2006) reported a decrease in motor unit firing rate at the same absolute force level during 3 weeks of isometric training in the quadriceps femoris muscles.
“On the other hand, Pucci et al. (2006) reported a decrease in the motor unit firing rate at the same absolute force level during 3 weeks of isometric training in the quadriceps femoris muscles (Pucci et al., 2006).”
From Effect of resistance training and fish protein intake on motor unit firing pattern and motor function of elderly (2018) · cites this paper as Pucci et al., 2006
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References 40 · Cited by 95
- Authors
- Pucci, A. R., Griffin, L., & Cafarelli, E.
- Affiliations
- York University (CA)
- The University of Texas at Austin (US)
- Corresponding author
- Griffin, L.
- ORCID
- Griffin, L.
- Venue
- Experimental Physiology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2005-12-20
- Volume
- 91
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 171-178
- ISSN
- 0958-0670 (ISSN-L)
- 1469-445X
- OpenAlex
- W1591294787
- Cited by
- 95
- References
- 40
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 1.48
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Experimental Physiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Muscle activation and electromyography studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
- Keywords
- motor unit firing rate, isometric resistance training, quadriceps, maximal voluntary contraction, surface electromyography, M-wave amplitude, twitch interpolation, muscle activation, motor unit recruitment, muscle force production, motor unit synchronization
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Electric Stimulation, Electromyography, Femoral Nerve, Humans, Isometric Contraction, Kinetics, Leg, Male, Motor Neurons, Exercise, Quadriceps Muscle
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