[Purpose] This study examined the relationship between toe grip strength and its associated factors by focusing on factors that were suggested to have a relationship with toe grip strength in previous studies, aiming to clarify the factors influencing the toe grip strength of healthy women. [Subjects and Methods] Twelve healthy young women were selected for this study. Their toe grip strength, ...

The relation between local circulation and alternate muscle activity among knee extensor synergists was determined during low-level sustained knee extension at 2.5% of maximal voluntary contraction for 60 min in seven subjects. Blood volume of rectus femoris (RF) and vastus lateralis (VL) was assessed by using near-infrared spectroscopy. Surface electromyogram (EMG) was recorded from RF, VL, an...

We hypothesized that the elevated primary O(2) uptake (VO(2)) amplitude during the second of two bouts of heavy cycle exercise would be accompanied by an increase in the integrated electromyogram (iEMG) measured from three leg muscles (gluteus maximus, vastus lateralis, and vastus medialis). Eight healthy men performed two 6-min bouts of heavy leg cycling (at 70% of the difference between the l...

This study examined the effects of a different number of eccentric contractions (ECs) on histological characteristics, surface electromyogram (EMG) parameters (integral EMG, iEMG; muscle fiber conduction velocity, MFCV; and action potential waveform), and isometric peak torque using the rat EC model. Male Wistar rats (n = 40) were anesthetized, and ECs were initiated in the tibialis anterior mu...

Acute and long-term effects of resistance exercise combined with vascular occlusion on muscular function were investigated. Changes in integrated electromyogram with respect to time (iEMG), vascular resistive index, and plasma lactate concentration were measured in five men either during or after elbow flexion exercises with the proximal end of the arm occluded at 0-100 mmHg. The mean iEMG, pos...

Distributed stimulation of ventral root (VR) filaments and pseudo-random interpulse intervals (based on a Gaussian distribution with a coefficient of variation of 12.5%) were used to modulate electromyographic activity (EMG) and force of the cat soleus muscle to assess the EMG-force relationship. A protocol consisting of addition and rate modulation of ten VR filaments that contain alpha motone...

The purpose of the present investigation was to determine whether chemical stimulation of cardiac receptors is sufficient to inhibit locomotion. Decerebrate, unanesthetized cats were induced to walk on a treadmill by electrically stimulating the mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR). Cardiac receptors were stimulated by injecting nicotine (62.3 +/- 8.6 microg/kg, mean +/- SE) into the pericardia...

OBJECTIVE The high incidence of noncontact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in females has attracted research to investigate the capacity of muscles to reflexively protect the knee joint from capsuloligamentous injury. Numerous reflex pathways link mechanoreceptors in the ACL with contractile fibers in the quadriceps and hamstring muscles. Loads placed on the ACL modify reactive muscle...

OBJECTIVE Underlying the ability of the hamstrings to decrease tibial anterior shear is the time of firing in comparison with the quadriceps. This timing may be aided by neural programming during a planned or expected activity. It is theorized that individuals who have better programming ability will suffer fewer anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries due to joint protection through muscular...