Andrea Casolo

• PhD Human Movement and Sport Sciences
• University of Padua

Enhanced untrained muscle strength and force steadiness following unilateral resistance training (i.e., cross-education ) is typically attributed to neural responses. However, the mechanisms of these adaptations for spinal motoneurons remain unexplored. Therefore, we examined maximal-voluntary-force (MVF), steady-force variability (CovF), and longi...

The effects of muscle disuse on the propagation of action potentials along muscle units, a key process for effective muscle activation and force production, remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate changes in action potential propagation and to identify biological factors influencing these changes following unilateral lower limb su...

In this tutorial, we discuss the potential of high-density surface EMG recordings to reveal key neural information underlying voluntary motor control, specifically through post-collection analyses. Given the high relevance of recent EMG signal-decomposition tutorials, the present document proposes the main approaches for extracting information rega...

Though similar motor unit (MU) discharge properties have been observed during slow sustained contractions between chronically strength-trained (ST) and untrained (UT) individuals, it is currently unknown if differences between these groups exist for when maximal in vivo MU discharge rate is assessed during rapid, maximal rate of force development (...

Purpose While cycling offers several health benefits, repetitive loading and maintenance of static postures for prolonged periods expose cyclists to low back pain (LBP). Despite high LBP prevalence in cyclists, underlying pathomechanics and specific lumbar region muscle activation patterns during cycling are unclear. Here, we compared lumbar erecto...

Purpose to investigate the early consequences of type 1 diabetes (T1D) on the neural strategies of muscle force production. Methods motor unit (MU) activity was recorded from the vastus lateralis muscle with High-Density surface Electromyography during isometric knee extension at 20 and 40% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) in 8 T1D (4 males,...

This cross-sectional study aims to elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying the control of knee extension forces in individuals with anterior cruciate ligament reconstructions (ACLR). Eleven soccer players with ACLR and nine control players performed unilateral isometric knee extensions at 10% and 30% of their maximum voluntary force (MVF). Simul...

Purpose Dragon Boat discipline has become a popular type of physical exercise among women with breast cancer. The present study aims to investigate the effects of Dragon Boat activity on body composition, physical function, and psychosocial aspects (i.e., body appreciation and quality of life [QoL]) in women operated for breast cancer. Methods Thi...

Objective To examine the dose-response association between estimated cardiorespiratory fitness (eCRF) and risk of myocardial infarction (MI). Patients and Methods Adults who attended Tromsø Study surveys 4-6 (Janurary 1,1994-December 20, 2008) with no previous cardiovascular disease were followed up through December 31, 2014 for incident MI. Assoc...

Background Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a rapid and user-friendly technique for assessing body composition in sports. Currently, no sport-specific predictive equations are available, and the utilization of generalized formulas can introduce systematic bias. The objectives of this study were as follows: (i) to develop and validate new p...

PURPOSE: Overactivation of erector spinae (ES) muscles has been identified as one of the potential major causes of low back pain (LBP) in cyclists1. Previous evidence on rowers with LBP reported an altered magnitude and spatial distribution of ES activity2. Conversely, less is known about cyclists’ lumbar region activation patterns. Accordingly, in...

PURPOSE: High-density surface EMG (HDsEMG) provides valuable information about motor units (MUs) properties and their adaptability non-invasively. However, great intersubject variability in identification of MUs exists due to anatomical constraints of the muscle, individual volume conductor properties and the contraction intensity. A recent study s...

High-Density surface Electromyography (HD-sEMG) is the most established technique for the non-invasive analysis of single motor unit (MU) activity in humans. It provides the possibility to study the central properties (e.g., discharge rate) of large populations of MUs by analysis of their firing pattern. Additionally, by spike-triggered averaging,...

Overactivation of erector spinae (ES) muscles has been identified as one of the potential major causes of low back pain (LBP) in cyclists. However, less is known about cyclists’ lumbar region activation patterns. Accordingly, in this cross-sectional study, we compared the activation and spatial distribution of ES muscles in cyclists with and withou...

Background: To non-invasively test the hypothesis that (a) short-term lower limb unloading would induce changes in the neural control of force production (based on motor units (MUs) properties) in the vastus lateralis muscle and (b) possible changes are reversed by active recovery. Methods: Ten young males underwent 10 days of unilateral lower l...

Because of the biophysical relation between muscle fibre diameter and the propagation velocity of action potentials along the muscle fibres, motor unit conduction velocity could be a non‐invasive index of muscle fibre size in humans. However, the relation between motor unit conduction velocity and fibre size has been only assessed indirectly in ani...

Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and anthropometry are considered alternatives to well-established reference techniques for assessing body composition. In team sports, the percentage of fat mass (FM%) is one of the most informative parameters, and a wide range of predictive equations allow for its estimation through both BIA and anthropometry...

Dragon Boat (DB) is a discipline that has become more popular in the last few years among women with breast cancer thanks to its psychophysical benefits. The present randomized control trial aims to depict the effects of a DB program on body composition, physical function, and some psychosocial aspects. METHODS: Thirty-two women with a previous dia...

The project STAI BENE 2.0 aimed to implement psycho-oncological and rehabilitative support for the paediatric patient suffering from onco-haematological malignancies in continuity between hospital and home stays. Online home-based and personalized physical exercise is included in the interventions with the final goal of promoting patient well-being...

Because of the biophysical relation between muscle fibre diameter and the propagation velocity of action potentials along the muscle fibres, motor unit conduction velocity (MUCV) could be a non-invasive index of muscle fibre size in humans. However, the relation between MUCV and fibre size has been only assessed indirectly in animal models and in h...

Resistance training has been proposed as a valid practice to counteract the aging effect on body mass and its components, which can be easily evaluated though the bioelectrical impedance analysis. This study aimed to achieve a systematic review with meta-analysis on the impact of resistance training on bioelectrical proprieties in older adults. A l...

Objective. High-density surface electromyography (HD-sEMG) allows the reliable identification of individual motor unit (MU) action potentials. Despite the accuracy in decomposition, there is a large variability in the number of identified MUs across individuals and exerted forces. Here we present a systematic investigation of the anatomical and neu...

Transcranial alternating current stimulation (TACS) is commonly used to synchronize a cortical area and its outputs to the stimulus waveform, but gathering evidence for this based on brain recordings in humans is challenging. The corticospinal tract transmits beta oscillations (∼21 Hz) from the motor cortex to tonically contracted limb muscles line...

This study aimed at: (1) Reporting COVID‐19 symptoms and duration in professional football players; (2) comparing players’ pulmonary function before and after COVID‐19; (3) comparing players’ metabolic power (Pmet) before and after COVID‐19. Thirteen male players (Age: 23.9 ± 4.0 years, V̇O2peak: 49.7 ± 4.0 mL/kg/min) underwent a medical screening...

Objective High-density surface electromyography (HD-sEMG) allows the reliable identification of individual motor unit (MU) action potentials. Despite the accuracy in decomposition, there is a large variability in the number of identified MUs across individuals and exerted forces. Here we present a systematic investigation of the anatomical and neur...

Transcranial alternating current stimulation (TACS) is commonly used to synchronise the output of a cortical area to other parts of the nervous system, but evidence for this based on brain recordings in humans is challenging. The brain transmits beta oscillations ( ~ 21Hz) to tonically contracted limb muscles linearly and through the fastest cortic...

While maximal force increases following short-term isometric strength training, the rate of force development (RFD) may remain relatively unaffected. The underlying neural and muscular mechanisms during rapid contractions after strength training are largely unknown. Since strength training increases the neural drive to muscles, it may be hypothesiz...

The persistence of quadriceps weakness represents a major concern following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). The underlying adaptations occurring in the activity of spinal motoneurons are still unexplored. This study examined the discharge patterns of large populations of motor units (MUs) in the vastus lateralis (VL) and vastus me...

Neural and morphological adaptations combine to underpin the enhanced muscle strength following prolonged exposure to strength training, although their relative importance remains unclear. We investigated the contribution of motor unit (MU) behaviour and muscle size to submaximal force production in chronically strength-trained athletes (ST) vs. un...

Accumulation of adipose tissue in specific body areas is related to many physiological and hormonal variables. Spot reduction (SR) is a training protocol aimed to stimulate lipolysis locally, even though this training protocol has not been extensively studied in recent years. Thus, the present study sought to investigate the effect of a circuit-tra...

While maximal force increases following short-term isometric strength training, the rate of force development (RFD) may remain relatively unaffected. The underlying neural and muscular mechanisms during rapid contractions after strength training are largely unknown. Since strength training increases the neural drive to muscles, it may be hypothesiz...

The initial increases in force production with resistance training are thought to be primarily underpinned by neural adaptations. This notion is firmly supported by evidence displaying motor unit adaptations following resistance training; however, the precise locus of neural adaptation remains elusive. The purpose of this review is to clarify and c...

There is a growing interest in decomposing high-density surface electromyography (HDsEMG) into motor unit spike trains to improve knowledge on the neural control of muscle contraction. However, the reliability of decomposition approaches is sometimes questioned, especially because they require manual editing of the outputs. We aimed to assess the i...

Introduction The COVID-19 outbreak with partial lockdown has inevitably led to an alteration in training routines for football players worldwide. Thus, coaches had to face with the novel challenge of minimizing the potential decline in fitness during this period of training disruption. Methods In this observational pre- to posttest study involving...

Introduction: The COVID-19 outbreak with partial lockdown has inevitably led to an alteration in training routines for football players worldwide. Thus, coaches had to face with the novel challenge of minimizing the potential decline in fitness during this period of training disruption. Methods: In this observational pre-to posttest study involving...

There is a growing interest in decomposing high-density surface electromyography (HDsEMG) into motor unit spike trains to improve knowledge on the neural control of muscle contraction. However, the reliability of decomposition approaches is sometimes questioned, especially because they require manual editing of the outputs. We aimed to assess the i...

The COVID-19 pandemic and the forced home confinement have risen a new challenge in the field of sport and exercise sciences, which consists in how to limit and counteract detraining-induced effects among athletes. Despite training cessation has been linked to a multitude of detrimental effects on human health and physical performance, very little...

Background High load (HL: > 85% of one repetition maximum (1RM)) squats with maximal intended velocity contractions (MIVC) combined with football sessions can be considered a relevant and time-efficient practice for maintaining and improving high velocity movements in football. Flywheel (FW) resistance exercise (RE) have recently emerged with promi...

Objective. We present a non-invasive framework for investigating efferent commands to 14 extrinsic and intrinsic hand muscles. We extend previous studies (limited to a few muscles) on common synaptic input among pools of motor neurons in a large number of muscles. Approach. Seven subjects performed sinusoidal isometric contractions to complete seve...

The neural factors underlying the persistency of quadriceps weakness after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) have been only partially explained. This study examined muscle fiber conduction velocity (MFCV) as an indirect parameter of motor unit recruitment strategies in the vastus lateralis (VL) and medialis (VM) muscles of soccer pla...

Muscle fibre conduction velocity (MFCV) is a basic physiological parameter biophysically related to the diameter of muscle fibres and properties of the sarcolemma. The aim of this study was to assess the intersession reproducibility of the relation between voluntary force and estimates of average muscle fibre conduction velocity (MFCV) from multich...

Purpose: Motor unit conduction velocity (MUCV) represents the propagation velocity of action potentials along the muscle fibres innervated by individual motor neurons and indirectly reflects the electrophysiological properties of the sarcolemma. In this study, we investigated the effect of a 4-week strength training intervention on the peripheral...

Non-curricular time spent in school context might provide a potential opportunity to promote physical activity (PA) and enhance children's health. This study examined the effects of a structured recess intervention over 12 weeks on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), PA daily levels and anthropometric characteristics, in 2nd and 3rd grade school child...

Purpose: Persistent quadriceps weakness is common after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). The main underlying factor is the arthrogenic muscle inhibition (AMI) caused by alterations in joint receptor discharges, spinal reflex excitability and cortical activity. The differential neural changes potentially occurring in both vastus lat...

Muscle fibre conduction velocity (MFCV) represents the propagation speed of action potentials along the muscle fibres. MFCV is associated to the fibre diameters (1) and provides indications on the electrophysiological properties of the fiber membrane (2). Therefore, MFCV may be adopted to assess structural and/or functional adjustments of fibre pro...

We propose a framework based on high-density surface electromyography (HD-sEMG) to identify the neural drive to muscles controlling the human hand. High-density (320 channels) sEMG signals were recorded concurrently from intrinsic (the four dorsal interossei and thenar) and extrinsic (forearm) hand muscles and then decomposed into the constituent...

Key points We propose and validate a method for accurately identifying the activity of populations of motor neurons during contractions at maximal rate of force development in humans. The behaviour of the motor neuron pool during rapid voluntary contractions in humans is presented. We show with this approach that the motor neuron recruitment speed...

Key points Previous studies have indicated that several weeks of strength training is sufficient to elicit significant adaptations in the neural drive sent to the muscles. There are few data, however, on the changes elicited by strength training in the recruitment and rate coding of motor units during voluntary contractions. We show for the first t...

Key points r We propose and validate a method for accurately identifying the activity of populations of motor neurons during contractions at maximal rate of force development in humans. r The behaviour of the motor neuron pool during rapid voluntary contractions in humans is presented. r We show with this approach that the motor neuron recruitment...

In his training and experiential path, the physical education (PE) teacher will be considered qualified and “competent”, only when he/she will be able to affect positively and effectively the educational relationship with the students by helping and leading them towards the acquisition of that particular form of intelligence, which from now on, we...

Purpose: Muscle fiber conduction velocity (MFCV) represents the propagation speed of the action potentials along the muscle fibers(1). MFCV has received little attention in sport sciences field as part of the force production biological structure(2). This study explored neuromuscular adaptations to a short-term strength training program with a focu...