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- Title
Changes in Antagonist Muscles' Coactivation in Response to Strength Training in Older Women.
- Authors
De Boer, Maarten D.; Morse, Christopher I.; Thom, Jeanette M.; De Haan, Arnold; Narici, Marco V.
- Abstract
Background. The purpose of this study was to assess changes in neuromuscular function of the plantarflexor and dorsiflexor muscles after 1 year of strength training of these muscles in elderly women. Twelve participants were assigned to a training (74.2 ± 3.1 years) group and eight to a nontraining group (73.6 ± 4.3 years). Methods. Isometric maximum voluntary contractions (MVC) and muscle activation based on surface electromyography (EMG) were recorded before and after the 12-month training program at six different joint angles. Results. After training (in the training group), (a) plantarflexion (PF) MVC increased on average by 14.4% (p < .05) across ankle joint angles from -20° dorsiflexion (DF) to +30° PF, (b) DF MVC decreased by 5.7% (p < .05), (c) PF EMG root mean square increased on average by 22.3% (p < .05), and (d) PF antagonists' coactivation increased on average by 7.5% across the tested joint angles. No changes were observed in the nontraining group. Conclusions. The present results show a significant increase in antagonist muscle coactivation with strength training in older women. The hypothesis is put forward that with a training-induced gain in agonist muscles' torque, stabilization of the ankle joint by increasing antagonist coactivation is needed because of a changed ratio of maximal PF torque to maximal DF torque.
- Subjects
MYONEURAL junction; MUSCLE contraction; MUSCLE diseases; DISEASES in older women; ELECTROMYOGRAPHY
- Publication
Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences & Medical Sciences, 2007, Vol 62, Issue 9, p1022
- ISSN
1079-5006
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/gerona/62.9.1022