Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

How to Confuse Motor Control: Passive Muscle Shortening Af-ter Contraction in Lengthened Position Reduces the Muscular Hold-ing Stability in the Sense of Adaptive Force

Version 1 : Received: 28 February 2023 / Approved: 6 March 2023 / Online: 6 March 2023 (09:50:47 CET)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Bittmann, F.N.; Dech, S.; Schaefer, L.V. How to Confuse Motor Control: Passive Muscle Shortening after Contraction in Lengthened Position Reduces the Muscular Holding Stability in the Sense of Adaptive Force. Life 2023, 13, 911. Bittmann, F.N.; Dech, S.; Schaefer, L.V. How to Confuse Motor Control: Passive Muscle Shortening after Contraction in Lengthened Position Reduces the Muscular Holding Stability in the Sense of Adaptive Force. Life 2023, 13, 911.

Abstract

Adaptation to external forces relies on a well-functioning proprioceptive system including muscle spindle afferents. Muscle length-tension control in reaction to external forces is most important regarding the Adaptive Force (AF). This study investigated the effect of different procedures, which are assumed to influence the function of muscle spindles, on the AF. 19 elbow flexors of 12 healthy participants were assessed by an objectified manual muscle test (MMT) with different procedures: regular MMT, MMT after pre-contraction (self-estimated 20% MVIC) in lengthened position with passive return to test position (CL) and MMT after CL with a second pre-contraction in test position (CL-CT). During regular MMTs, muscles maintained their length up to 99.7±1.0% of the maximal AF (AFmax). After CL, muscles started to lengthen at 53.0±22.5% of AFmax. For CL-CT, muscles were again able to maintain the isometric position up to 98.3±5.5% of AFmax. AFisomax differed highly significantly between CL vs. CL-CT and regular MMT. CL is assumed to generate a slack of muscle spindles which led to a substantial reduction of the holding capacity. This was immediately erased by a pre-contraction in test position. The results substantiate that muscle spindle sensitivity seems to play an important role for neuromuscular functioning and musculoskeletal stability.

Keywords

Maximal isometric adaptive force; Holding capacity; Muscle stability; Neuromuscular functioning; Neuromuscular control; Motor control; Muscle spindle; Muscle physiology; Regulatory physiology

Subject

Medicine and Pharmacology, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

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