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European Journal of Applied Physiology

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01-12-2013 | Original Article

Recruitment order of quadriceps motor units: femoral nerve vs. direct quadriceps stimulation

Authors: Javier Rodriguez-Falces, Nicolas Place

Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology | Issue 12/2013

Abstract

Introduction

To investigate potential differences in the recruitment order of motor units (MUs) in the quadriceps femoris when electrical stimulation is applied over the quadriceps belly versus the femoral nerve.

Methods

M-waves and mechanical twitches were evoked using femoral nerve stimulation and direct quadriceps stimulation of gradually increasing intensity from 20 young, healthy subjects. Recruitment order was investigated by analysing the time-to-peak twitch and the time interval from the stimulus artefact to the M-wave positive peak (M-wave latency) for the vastus medialis (VM) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles.

Results

During femoral nerve stimulation, time-to-peak twitch and M-wave latency decreased consistently (P < 0.05) with increasing stimulus intensity, whereas, during graded direct quadriceps stimulation, time-to-peak twitch and VL M-wave latency did not show a clear trend (P > 0.05). For the VM muscle, M-wave latency decreased with increasing stimulation level for both femoral nerve and direct quadriceps stimulation, whereas, for the VL muscle, the variation of M-wave latency with stimulus intensity was different for the two stimulation geometries (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Femoral nerve stimulation activated MUs according to the size principle, whereas the recruitment order during direct quadriceps stimulation was more complex, depending ultimately on the architecture of the peripheral nerve and its terminal branches below the stimulating electrodes for each muscle. For the VM, MUs were orderly recruited for both stimulation geometries, whereas, for the VL muscle, MUs were orderly recruited for femoral nerve stimulation, but followed no particular order for direct quadriceps stimulation.

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Title: Recruitment order of quadriceps motor units: femoral nerve vs. direct quadriceps stimulation
Authors: Javier Rodriguez-Falces
Nicolas Place
Publication date: 01-12-2013
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology / Issue 12/2013
Print ISSN: 1439-6319
Electronic ISSN: 1439-6327
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-013-2736-2

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Recruitment order of quadriceps motor units: femoral nerve vs. direct quadriceps stimulation

Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Introduction

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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