Discharge pattern of single motor units in the tonic vibration reflex of human triceps surae.
Open accessAbstract
Using a single fibre EMG electrode the firing pattern of 46 motor units in the triceps surae has been studied during vibration of the Achilles tendon at frequencies of 25--200 Hz. Potentials activated in the tonic vibration reflex (TVR) were phase-locked to the vibration cycle but tended to become somewhat less so with continued vibration. The firing pattern of voluntarily activated motor units became locked to the waveform by the application of the vibrator. The discharges of 21 motor units were studied during low threshold (sub-M wave) tetanic stimulation of the tibial nerve at 25--100 Hz. No evidence was found of synchronization of potentials activated in the resulting tonic contraction. During weak voluntary contractions, stimulation also failed to regularize voluntarily activated motor units. The findings can be reconciled by postulating that, in normal man, vibration activates monosynaptic and polysynaptic pathways, the latter circuit being adequate to generate reflex contraction, while the former merely affects the temporal patterning of the motor outflow.
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Whole-body vibration therapy transmits mechanical stimuli through the body to activate primary endings of muscle spindles, leading to neuromuscular activation.
“Whole-body vibration therapy uses the transmission of mechanical stimuli through the person’s body365,366 to activate the primary ends of muscle spindles, which leads to neuromuscular activation367–369.”
From Sarcopenic obesity in older adults: aetiology, epidemiology and treatment strategies (2018) · cites this paper as [369]
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- Authors
- Burke, D., & Schiller, H. H.
- Affiliations
- Uppsala University (SE)
- ORCID
- Burke, D
- Venue
- Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Published
- 1976-08-01
- Volume
- 39
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 729-741
- ISSN
- 0022-3050 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC492438
- OpenAlex
- W2076349290
- Cited by
- 151
- References
- 31
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 1.79
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery & Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Biomedical Engineering › Muscle activation and electromyography studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Motor Control and Adaptation
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Effects of Vibration on Health
- Keywords
- tonic vibration reflex, triceps surae, motor unit firing patterns, Achilles tendon vibration, phase locking, monosynaptic reflex, polysynaptic reflex, voluntary muscle contraction, motor unit synchronization
- MeSH terms
- Action Potentials, Adult, Evoked Potentials, Humans, Motor Neurons, Muscle Contraction, Muscles, Neurons, Afferent, Reaction Time, Reflex, Synapses, Vibration
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