Anthony J. Sargeant

Publications (23)48.15 Total impact

• Article: The training stimulus experienced by the leg muscles during cycling in humans.

  Jamie S McPhee, Alun G Williams, Claire Stewart, Keith Baar, Joaquin Perez Schindler, Sarah Aldred, Nicola Maffulli, Anthony J Sargeant, David A Jones
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  ABSTRACT: Considerable variability exists between people in their health- and performance-related adaptations to conventional endurance training. We hypothesized that some of this variability might be due to differences in the training stimulus received by the working muscles. In 71 young sedentary women we observed large variations in the ratio of one-leg cycling muscle aerobic capacity (V(O2peak)) to two-leg cycling whole-body maximal oxygen uptake (V(O2max); Ratio(1:2); range 0.58-0.96). The variability in Ratio(1:2) was primarily due to differences between people in one-leg V(O2peak) (r = 0.71, P < 0.0005) and was not related to two-leg V(O2max) (r = 0.15, P = 0.209). Magnetic resonance imaging (n = 30) and muscle biopsy sampling (n = 20) revealed that one-leg V(O2peak) was mainly determined by muscle volume (r = 0.73, P < 0.0005) rather than muscle fibre type or oxidative capacity. A high one-leg V(O2peak) was associated with favourable lipoprotein profiles (P = 0.033, n = 24) but this was not the case for two-leg V(O2max). Calculations based on these data suggest that conventional two-leg exercise at 70% V(O2max) requires subjects with the lowest Ratio(1:2) to work their legs at 60% of single-leg V(O2peak), whilst those with the highest Ratio(1:2) work their legs at only 36% of maximum. It was concluded that endurance training carried out according to current guidelines will result in highly variable training stimuli for the leg muscles and variable magnitudes of adaptation. These conclusions have implications for the prescription of exercise to improve health and for investigations into the genetic basis of muscle adaptations.
  Experimental physiology 02/2009; 94(6):684-94. · 3.17 Impact Factor
• Article: Structural and functional determinants of human muscle power.

  Anthony J Sargeant
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  ABSTRACT: Measurements of human power need to be interpreted in relation to the movement frequency, since that will determine the velocity of contraction of the active muscle and hence the power available according to the power-velocity relationship. Techniques are described which enable movement frequency to be kept constant during human exercise under different conditions. Combined with microdissection and analysis of muscle fibre fragments from needle biopsies obtained pre- and postexercise we have been able 'to take the muscle apart', having measured the power output, including the effect of fatigue, under conditions of constant movement frequency. We have shown that fatigue may be the consequence of a metabolic challenge to a relatively small population of fast fatigue-sensitive fibres, as indicated by [ATP] depletion to approximately 30% of resting values in those fibres expressing myosin heavy chain isoform IIX after just 10 s of maximal dynamic exercise. Since these same fibres will have a high maximal velocity of contraction, they also make a disproportionate contribution to power output in relation to their number, especially at faster movement rates. The microdissection technique can also be used to measure phosphocreatine concentration ([PCr]), which is an exquisitely sensitive indicator of muscle fibre activity; thus, in just seven brief maximal contractions [PCr] is depleted to levels < 50% of rest in all muscle fibre types. The technique has been applied to study exercise at different intensities, and to compare recruitment in lengthening, shortening and isometric contractions, thus yielding new information on patterns of recruitment, energy turnover and efficiency.
  Experimental Physiology 03/2007; 92(2):323-31. · 3.21 Impact Factor
• Article: Human calf muscle responses during repeated isometric plantarflexions.

  Constantinos N Maganaris, Vasilios Baltzopoulos, Anthony J Sargeant
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  ABSTRACT: In the present study, we measured the contraction-induced shortening (dL) of individual synergistic human muscles in a repeated motor task to assess their contractile behaviour. Ultrasonography was used to obtain dL measurements in the gastrocnemius (GS) and soleus (SOL) muscles of six men performing 11 consecutive isometric plantarflexions. Contractions 1 and 11 were performed with maximal effort, and contractions 2-4, 5-7 and 8-10 were performed with efforts generating 50, 70 and 90%, respectively, of the plantarflexion moment produced in contraction 1. In contractions 5-10, the SOL muscle dL was similar (p > 0.05) to that produced in contraction 1 (approximately 6 mm), indicating that the SOL muscle became fully activated at 70% of the maximum plantarflexion moment. The GS muscle dL in contractions 10 and 11 exceeded by approximately 0.5 mm (p < 0.05) and 1.3 mm (p < 0.01), respectively, that generated in contraction 1 (approximately 10 mm), despite evidence obtained by superimposed stimulation that contraction 1 was produced with full motor unit activation. The consequent paradox that the GS muscle would produce in contractions 10 and 11 a greater activation and therefore more force than its actual potential is resolved when considering the interaction between the time-dependent tensile response of tendon and the performance of muscle as dictated by the sliding filament mechanism of contraction.
  Journal of Biomechanics 02/2006; 39(7):1249-55. · 2.43 Impact Factor
• Article: Adaptive response of human tendon to paralysis.

  Constantinos N Maganaris, Neil D Reeves, Joern Rittweger, Anthony J Sargeant, David A Jones, Karin Gerrits, Arnold De Haan
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  ABSTRACT: To gain insight into the adaptive response of human tendon to paralysis, we compared the mechanical properties of the in vivo patellar tendon in six men who were spinal cord-injured (SCI) and eight age-matched, able-bodied men. Measurements were taken by combining dynamometry, electrical stimulation, and ultrasonography. Tendon stiffness and Young's modulus, calculated from force-elongation and stress-strain curves, respectively, were lower by 77% (P < 0.01) and 59% (P < 0.05) in the SCI than able-bodied subjects. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the tendon was 17% smaller (P < 0.05) in the SCI subjects, but there was no difference in tendon length between the two groups. Our results indicate that paralysis causes substantial deterioration of the structural and material properties of tendon. This needs to be taken into consideration in the design of electrical stimulation protocols for rehabilitation and experimental purposes, and when interpreting changes in the contractile speed of paralyzed muscle.
  Muscle & Nerve 01/2006; 33(1):85-92. · 2.37 Impact Factor
• Article: Influence of knee joint angle on muscle properties of paralyzed and nonparalyzed human knee extensors.

  Karin H Gerrits, Constantinos N Maganaris, Neil D Reeves, Anthony J Sargeant, David A Jones, Arnold de Haan
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  ABSTRACT: Muscles of individuals with a spinal cord injury (SCI) exhibit an unexpected leftward shift in the force (torque)-frequency relationship. We investigated whether differences in torque-angle relationships between SCI and able-bodied control muscles could explain this shift. Electrically stimulated knee-extensor contractions were obtained at knee flexion angles of between 30 degrees and 90 degrees. Torque-frequency relationships were obtained at 30 degrees, 90 degrees, and optimum angle. Optimum angle was not different between groups but SCI-normalized torques were lower at the extreme angles. At all angles, SCI muscles produced higher relative torques at low stimulation frequencies. Thus, there was no evidence of a consistent change in the length of paralyzed SCI muscles, and the anomalous leftward shift in the torque-frequency relationship was not the result of testing the muscle at a relatively long length. The results provide valuable information about muscle changes occurring in various neurological disorders.
  Muscle & Nerve 08/2005; 32(1):73-80. · 2.37 Impact Factor
• Source

  Available from: Derek Ball

  Article: Skeletal muscle morphology and capillarization of renal failure patients receiving different dialysis therapies.

  Giorgos K Sakkas, Derek Ball, Anthony J Sargeant, Thomas H Mercer, Pelagia Koufaki, Patrick F Naish
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  ABSTRACT: The morphology of gastrocnemius muscles was examined in RFPs (renal failure patients) being treated using HD (haemodialysis) and CAPD (continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis). RFPs (n=24) volunteered to participate in the present study. Twelve RFPs (five women and seven men; mean age, 55 years) were undergoing CAPD treatment and 12 RFPs (two women and ten men; mean age, 62 years) were undergoing HD treatment. Muscle biopsies from gastrocnemius muscles were found not to differ (P>0.05) in fibre type distribution, MyHC (myosin heavy chain) expression or fibre CSA (cross-sectional area) between the two groups. There were, however, significant differences (P<0.05) in CC/F (capillary contact/fibre), C/F (capillary to fibre ratio) and cytochrome c oxidase activity. The HD group had 33% more CC/F, with a 19% higher C/F and 33% greater cytochrome c activity in glycolytic fibres (II) than the CAPD group. There were no apparent differences in age, gender, co-morbidity, self-reported physical activity or physical functioning between the two groups, which could account for the difference in muscle capillarity between the groups. The HD patients were, however, administered heparin as a routine part of the dialysis therapy. The possibility is discussed that heparin in combination with mild anaemia and acidosis may have augmented angiogenesis in the HD patients.
  Clinical Science 12/2004; 107(6):617-23. · 4.61 Impact Factor
• Article: In vivo measurements of the triceps surae complex architecture in man: implications for muscle function

  Constantinos N. Maganaris, Vasilios Baltzopoulos, Anthony J. Sargeant
  The Journal of Physiology 09/2004; 512(2):603 - 614. · 4.72 Impact Factor
• Article: Knee and ankle range of motion during stepping down in elderly compared to young men.

  Sally D Lark, John G Buckley, David A Jones, Anthony J Sargeant
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  ABSTRACT: A major factor limiting mobility in elderly subjects is their difficulty with descending steps but the physiological and biomechanical basis of this problem is not well understood. To address this question we have compared the kinematics of stepping down in six elderly male subjects and six weight- and height-matched younger subjects. Five reflective markers were positioned on the lower limbs and subjects were filmed stepping down from four heights (200, 250, 300, and 335 mm). Maximum angular displacements for the knee and ankle of the supporting limb were expressed as a percentage of each subject's passive range of motion (ROM). Time spent in 'foot flat' during single support was also compared. The results show the elderly subjects sustained dorsiflexion and a 'foot flat' position of the support limb for a significantly ( P<0.05) longer period than the young (approximately 20%). Consequently, elderly subjects utilised a greater percentage of their passive ankle ROM compared to the young (elderly approximately 200%; young approximately 125%). We conclude that the elderly maintained a 'foot flat' position for a longer period possibly to increase the time spent on a larger base of support. These results suggest that exercise prescription in the elderly should include stretching in order to increase the ROM at the ankle joint.
  Arbeitsphysiologie 04/2004; 91(2-3):287-95. · 2.15 Impact Factor
• Article: Atrophy of non-locomotor muscle in patients with end-stage renal failure.

  Giorgos K Sakkas, Derek Ball, Thomas H Mercer, Anthony J Sargeant, Keith Tolfrey, Patrick F Naish
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  ABSTRACT: All previous histological studies of skeletal muscles of patients with renal failure have used locomotor muscle biopsies. It is thus unclear to what degree the observed abnormalities are due to the uraemic state and how much is due to disuse. The present study was undertaken to attempt to investigate this question by examining a non-locomotor muscle (rectus abdominis) in patients with end-stage renal failure. Biopsies from rectus abdominis were obtained from 22 renal failure patients (RFPs) undergoing surgical Tenchkoff catheter implantation for peritoneal dialysis and 20 control subjects undergoing elective abdominal surgery. Histochemical staining of frozen sections and morphometric analysis was used to estimate the proportion of each fibre type, muscle fibre area and capillary density. Myosin heavy chain composition was examined by SDS-PAGE. There were no differences in fibre type distribution between RFPs and controls. All RFPs showed fibre atrophy [mean cross-sectional area (CSA) 3300 +/- 1100 microm2, compared to 4100 +/- 1100 microm2 in controls (P < 0.05)]. All fibre types were smaller in mean CSA in RFPs than in controls (15, 26 and 28% for types I, IIa and IIx, respectively). These differences could not be accounted for by differences in age, gender or cardiovascular or diabetic comorbidity. Muscle fibre capillarization, expressed as capillaries per fibre or capillary contacts per fibre, was significantly less in RFPs. Since a non-locomotor muscle was examined, the effects of disuse as a cause of atrophy have been minimized. It is likely, therefore, that the decreased muscle fibre CSA and capillary density of RFPs compared to controls were due predominantly to uraemia itself.
  Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation 11/2003; 18(10):2074-81. · 3.40 Impact Factor
• Source

  Available from: Sally Lark

  Article: Joint torques and dynamic joint stiffness in elderly and young men during stepping down.

  Sally D Lark, John G Buckley, Simon Bennett, David Jones, Anthony J Sargeant
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  ABSTRACT: To compare the joint torque pattern and dynamic joint stiffness at the knee and ankle in elderly and young men during stepping down. Adequate joint stiffness is critical during the single support phase to control forward and downward body momentum. Six active elderly men (mean 67.7) and six young men (mean 23.6) of similar body mass and height, were filmed stepping down from one force platform to another. Repeated trials were undertaken at three different step heights (200, 250, and 300 mm). Joint torques were determined for the ankle and knee of the support limb throughout the single support phase. The gradient of the joint torque-angle graph was calculated to define dynamic joint stiffness of the ankle and knee in two phases; (I) from initiation of movement until heel-off of the supporting limb, and (II) from heel-off of the supporting limb to contra-limb touch down. Maximum ankle torque values were lower in the elderly and occurred at a larger dorsiflexion angle (P<0.05). Knee torque patterns were similar in both groups. Phase I ankle stiffness was significantly less in the elderly (4.0-5.2 Nm/ degrees ) at all step heights compared to the young (7.6 - 8.7 Nm/ degrees ). In both groups ankle stiffness in Phase II increased with step height, while knee joint stiffness decreased. The different torque pattern and lower dynamic ankle stiffness in the elderly, particularly for Phase I, suggested an altered control strategy. These findings highlight the importance of dynamic ankle joint stiffness in stepping down. Understanding how the elderly step down may be important in developing strategies to prevent falls.
  Clinical Biomechanics 11/2003; 18(9):848-55. · 2.07 Impact Factor
• Article: Changes in muscle morphology in dialysis patients after 6 months of aerobic exercise training.

  Giorgos K Sakkas, Anthony J Sargeant, Thomas H Mercer, Derek Ball, Pelagia Koufaki, Christina Karatzaferi, Patrick F Naish
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  ABSTRACT: In the present study we investigated the effect of a 6-month aerobic exercise programme on the morphology of the gastrocnemius muscle of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Twenty-four ESRD patients volunteered to participate in the training programme and underwent muscle biopsy before training. Eighteen patients completed the training programme of whom nine agreed to a post-training biopsy (one woman and eight men, mean age 56 +/- 15 years). Data are presented for the nine subjects who were biopsied before (PRE) and after training (POST) and separately for the 15 subjects for whom we only have a biopsy before training (cross-sectional group). There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in fibre type distribution or myosin heavy chain (MyHC) expression between the cross-sectional and PRE/POST groups. The mean cross-section fibre area after training (POST) increased by 46% compared with the PRE training status (P < 0.01). The proportion of atrophic fibres decreased significantly after training in type I, IIa and IIx fibre populations (from 51 to 15%, 58 to 21% and 62 to 32%, respectively). Significant differences were also found in capillary contact per fibre (CC/F), with the muscle having 24% (P < 0.05) more CC/F compared with the PRE training status. No significant differences in cytochrome c oxidase concentration were found between the groups. In conclusion, exercise appeared to be beneficial in renal rehabilitation by correcting the fibre atrophy, increasing the cross-section fibre area and improving the capillarization in the skeletal muscle of renal failure patients.
  Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation 09/2003; 18(9):1854-61. · 3.40 Impact Factor
• Article: Quadriceps muscle strength and voluntary activation after polio.

  Anita Beelen, Frans Nollet, Marianne de Visser, Bareld A de Jong, Gustaaf J Lankhorst, Anthony J Sargeant
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  ABSTRACT: Quadriceps strength, maximal anatomical cross-sectional area (CSA), maximal voluntary activation (MVA), and maximal relaxation rate (MRR) were studied in 48 subjects with a past history of polio, 26 with and 22 without postpoliomyelitis syndrome (PPS), and in 13 control subjects. It was also investigated whether, apart from CSA, MVA and MRR were determinants of muscle strength. Polio subjects had significantly less strength, CSA, and MRR in the more-affected quadriceps than control subjects. MVA was reduced in 18 polio subjects and normal in all controls. PPS subjects differed from non-PPS subjects only in that the MVA of the more-affected quadriceps was significantly lower. Both CSA and MVA were found to be associated with muscle strength. Quadriceps strength in polio subjects was dependent not only on muscle mass, but also on the ability to activate the muscles. Since impaired activation was more pronounced in PPS subjects, the new muscle weakness and functional decline in PPS may be due not only to a gradual loss of muscle fibers, but also to an increasing inability to activate the muscles.
  Muscle & Nerve 09/2003; 28(2):218-26. · 2.37 Impact Factor
• Article: Repeated contractions alter the geometry of human skeletal muscle.

  Constantinos N Maganaris, Vasilios Baltzopoulos, Anthony J Sargeant
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  ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of repeated contractions on the geometry of human skeletal muscle. Six men performed two sets (sets A and B) of 10 repeated isometric plantarflexion contractions at 80% of the moment generated during plantarflexion maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), with a rest interval of 15 min between sets. By use of ultrasound, the geometry of the medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscle was measured in the contractions of set A and the displacement of the MG tendon origin in the myotendinous junction was measured in the contractions of set B. In the transition from the 1st to the 10th contractions, the fascicular length at 80% of MVC decreased from 34 +/- 4 (means +/- SD) to 30 +/- 3 mm (P < 0.001), the pennation angle increased from 35 +/- 3 to 42 +/- 3 degrees (P < 0.001), the myotendinous junction displacement increased from 5 +/- 3 to 10 +/- 3 mm (P < 0.001), and the average fascicular curvature remained constant (P > 0.05) at approximately 4.3 m(-1). No changes (P > 0.05) were found in fascicular length, pennation angle, and myotendinous junction displacement after the fifth contraction. Electrogoniometry showed that the ankle rotated by approximately 6.5 degrees during contraction, but no differences (P > 0.05) were obtained between contractions. The present results show that repeated contractions induce tendon creep, which substantially affects the geometry of the in-series contracting muscles, thus altering their potential for force and joint moment generation.
  Journal of Applied Physiology 12/2002; 93(6):2089-94. · 3.75 Impact Factor
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  Available from: Derek Ball

  Article: Effect of muscle temperature on rate of oxygen uptake during exercise in humans at different contraction frequencies.

  Richard A Ferguson, Derek Ball, Anthony J Sargeant
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  ABSTRACT: The effect of elevated human muscle temperature on energy turnover was investigated during cycling exercise (at 85 % of (VO(2)max)) at a contraction frequency of 60 revs min(-1). Muscle temperature was passively elevated prior to exercise by immersion of the legs in a hot water bath (42 degrees C). During exercise at this low pedalling rate, total energy turnover was higher (P<0.05) when muscle temperature was elevated compared with normal temperature (70.4+/-3.7 versus 66.9+/-2.4 kJ min(-1), respectively). Estimated net mechanical efficiency was found to be lower when muscle temperature was elevated. A second experiment was conducted in which the effect of elevated human muscle temperature on energy turnover was investigated during cycling exercise (at 85 % of (VO(2)max)) at a contraction frequency of 120 revs min(-1). Under the conditions of a high pedalling frequency, an elevated muscle temperature resulted in a lower energy turnover (P<0.05) compared with the normal muscle temperature (64.9+/-3.7 versus 69.0+/-4.7 kJ min(-1), respectively). The estimated net mechanical efficiency was therefore higher when muscle temperature was elevated. We propose that, in these experiments, prior heating results in an inappropriately fast rate of cross-bridge cycling when exercising at 60 revs min(-1), leading to an increased energy turnover and decreased efficiency. However, at the faster pedalling rate, the effect of heating the muscle shifts the efficiency/velocity relationship to the right so that cross-bridge detachment is more appropriately matched to the contraction velocity and, hence, energy turnover is reduced.
  Journal of Experimental Biology 05/2002; 205(Pt 7):981-7. · 3.00 Impact Factor
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  Available from: Willem van Mechelen

  Article: Metabolic changes in single human muscle fibres during brief maximal exercise

  Christina Karatzaferi, Anthony J. Sargeant, Arnold de Haan, Willem van Mechelen
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  ABSTRACT: Full-text of this article is not available in this e-prints service. This article was originally published [following peer-review] in Experimental Physiology, published by and copyright Wiley-Blackwell. Changes in high-energy phosphate levels in single human skeletal muscle fibres after 10 s of maximal (all-out) dynamic exercise were investigated. Muscle biopsies from vastus lateralis of two volunteers were collected at rest and immediately post exercise. Single muscle fibres were dissected from dry muscle and were assigned into one of four groups according to their myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoform content: that is type I, IIA, IIAx and IIXa (the latter two groups containing either less or more than 50 % IIX MyHC). Fragments of characterised fibres were analysed by HPLC for ATP, inosine-monophosphate (IMP), phosphocreatine (PCr) and creatine levels. After 10 s of exercise, PCr content ([PCr]) declined by approximately 46, 53, 62 and 59 % in type I, IIA, IIAx and IIXa fibres, respectively (P < 0.01 from rest). [ATP] declined only in type II fibres, especially in IIAx and IIXa fibres in which [IMP] reached mean values of 16 ± 1 and 18 ± 4 mmol (kg dry mass)-1, respectively. While [PCr] was reduced in all fibre types during the brief maximal dynamic exercise, it was apparent that type II fibres expressing the IIX myosin heavy chain isoform were under a greatest metabolic stress as indicated by the reductions in [ATP].
  Experimental physiology 04/2001; · 3.17 Impact Factor
• Article: New method for the accurate characterization of single human skeletal muscle fibres demonstrates a relation between mATPase and MyHC expression in pure and hybrid fibre types

  José A. A. Sant' Ana Pereira, Andy Wessels, Leo Nijtmans, Antoon F. M. Moorman, Anthony J. Sargeant
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  ABSTRACT: In the present study we have developed a method which, by combining histochemical, immunohistochemical, electrophoretic and immunoblotting analyses on a single fibre, enables a sensitive characterization of human skeletal muscle fibres dissected from freeze-dried biopsy samples. For histochemical (and immunohistochemical) analysis fibre fragments (500 m) of individual fibres were mounted in an embedding medium to allow cryostat sections of normalized thickness to be reproducibly obtained. The specificity of the myofibrillar Ca2+ ATPase (mATPase) staining profiles in gelatin-embedded single fibre sections was tested by immunohistochemical reactions with anti-myosin heavy chain (MyHC) monoclonal antibodies specific to human MyHC I, IIA, IIB and IIA+IIB and by gel electrophoresis.The combined methodologies demonstrated the specificity of the mATPase staining patterns which correlated to the expression of distinct MyHC isoforms. In addition the results provide evidence that many fibres co-expressed different MyHC isoforms in variable relative amounts, forming a continuum. Staining intensities for mATPase, converted into optical density values by image analysis revealed that a relationship between mATPase and MyHC expression holds for hybrid fibres even when displaying one MyHC type with overwhelming dominance. The results also revealed that three MyHC isoforms I, IIA and IIB can be co-expressed on a single muscle fibre. In such a case mATPase alone, with the current protocols, does not allow an accurate characterization of the specific MyHC-based fibre type(s). although some hybrid fibres may have displayed a non-uniform expression of myosins along their lengths, most fibres from the IIA/B group (type) remained very stable with respect to the relative amounts of the MyHCs expressed. Finally, a second slow MyHC isoform was recognized on immunoblots of a mixed muscle sample.
  Journal of Muscle Research and Cell Motility 01/1995; 16(1):21-34. · 1.98 Impact Factor
• Article: Adaptive response of human tendon to paralysis

  Constantinos N Maganaris, Neil D. Reeves, Joern Rittweger, Anthony J. Sargeant, David A Jones, Karin H. Gerrits, Arnold de Haan
  [show abstract] [hide abstract]
  ABSTRACT: Full-text document not available in this e-prints service. This article was originally published in "Muscle and nerve", published by John Wiley and Sons. To gain insight into the adaptive response of human tendon to paralysis, we compared the mechanical properties of the in vivo patellar tendon in six men who were spinal cord-injured (SCI) and eight age-matched, able-bodied men. Measurements were taken by combining dynamometry, electrical stimulation, and ultrasonography. Tendon stiffness and Young's modulus, calculated from force-elongation and stress-strain curves, respectively, were lower by 77% (P < 0.01) and 59% (P < 0.05) in the SCI than able-bodied subjects. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the tendon was 17% smaller (P < 0.05) in the SCI subjects, but there was no difference in tendon length between the two groups. Our results indicate that paralysis causes substantial deterioration of the structural and material properties of tendon. This needs to be taken into consideration in the design of electrical stimulation protocols for rehabilitation and experimental purposes, and when interpreting changes in the contractile speed of paralyzed muscle.
• Article: Effect of antagonist muscle fatigue on knee extension torque

  J.G. Marijke Beltman, Anthony J. Sargeant, Derek Ball, Constantinos N Maganaris, Arnold de Haan
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  ABSTRACT: The original publication is available at http://www.springer.com/ The effect of hamstring fatigue on knee extension torque was examined at different knee angles for seven male subjects. Before and after a dynamic flexion fatigue protocol (180 degrees s(-1), until dynamic torque had declined by 50%), maximal voluntary contraction extension torque was measured at four knee flexion angles (90 degrees, 70 degrees, 50 degrees and 30 degrees ). Maximal torque generating capacity and voluntary activation of the quadriceps muscle were determined using electrical stimulation. Average rectified EMG of the biceps femoris was determined. Mean dynamic flexion torque declined by 48+/-11%. Extensor maximal voluntary contraction torque, maximal torque generating capacity, voluntary activation and average rectified EMG at the four knee angles were unaffected by the hamstring fatigue protocol. Only at 50 degrees knee angle was voluntary activation significantly lower (15.7%) after fatigue ( P<0.05). In addition, average rectified EMG before fatigue was not significantly influenced by knee angle. It was concluded that a fatigued hamstring muscle did not increase the maximal voluntary contraction extension torque and knee angle did not change coactivation. Three possible mechanisms may explain the results: a potential difference in recruited fibre populations in antagonist activity compared with the fibres which were fatigued in the protocol, a smaller loss in isometric torque generating capacity of the hamstring muscle than was expected from the dynamic measurements and/or a reduction in voluntary activation.
• Source

  Available from: vu.nl

  Article: Effects of training on contractile properties of paralyzed quadriceps muscle

  Karin H. Gerrits, Maria T E Hopman, Anthony J. Sargeant, David A Jones, Arnold de Haan
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  ABSTRACT: Full-text of this article is not available in this e-prints service. This article was originally published following peer-review in Muscle and Nerve, published by and copyright John Wiley and Sons, Inc. Effects of two different training regimens on the contractile properties of the quadriceps muscle were studied in six individuals with spinal cord injury. Each subject had both limbs trained with the two regimens, consisting of stimulation with low frequencies (LF) at 10 HZ or high frequencies (HF) at 50 HZ; one limb of each subject was stimulated with the LF protocol and the other with the HF regimen. Twelve weeks of daily training increased tetanic tension by approximately 20%, which was not significantly different between training regimens. Interestingly, after HF but not LF training, the unusual high forces at the low frequency range of the force-frequency relationship decreased, possibly due to a reduced activation per impulse. After LF but not HF training, force oscillation amplitudes declined (by 33%) as relaxation tended to slow, which may have opposed possible effects of reduced activation as seen after HF training. Finally, fatigue resistance also increased rapidly after LF training (by 43%) but not after HF training. These results indicate that different types of training may selectively change different aspects of function in disused muscles.
• Source

  Available from: vu.nl

  Article: Variability in fibre properties in paralysed human quadriceps muscles and effects of training

  Karin H. Gerrits, Maria T E Hopman, Carla Offringa, Baziel G M van Engelen, Anthony J. Sargeant, David A Jones, Arnold de Haan
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  ABSTRACT: The original publication is available at http://www.springer.com/ A spinal cord injury usually leads to an increase in contractile speed and fatigability of the paralysed quadriceps muscles, which is probably due to an increased expression of fast myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms and reduced oxidative capacity. Sometimes, however, fatigue resistance is maintained in these muscles and also contractile speed is slower than expected. To obtain a better understanding of the diversity of these quadriceps muscles and to determine the effects of training on characteristics of paralysed muscles, fibre characteristics and whole muscle function were assessed in six subjects with spinal cord lesions before and after a 12-week period of daily low-frequency electrical stimulation. Relatively high levels of MHC type I were found in three subjects and this corresponded with a high degree of fusion in 10-Hz force responses (r=0.88). Fatigability was related to the activity of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) (r=0.79). Furthermore, some differentiation between fibre types in terms of metabolic properties were present, with type I fibres expressing the highest levels of SDH and lowest levels of alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase. After training, SDH activity increased by 76+/-26% but fibre diameter and MHC expression remained unchanged. The results indicate that expression of contractile proteins and metabolic properties seem to underlie the relatively normal functional muscle characteristics observed in some paralysed muscles. Furthermore, training-induced changes in fatigue resistance seem to arise, in part, from an improved oxidative capacity.