Effect of co-contractions on the cardiovascular response to submaximal static handgrip.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of concomitant involuntary contractions of different muscles on heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) during a sustained, submaximal handgrip. Nine male subjects [23.6 (0.4) years, 177.0 (1.5) cm, and 73.0 (2.7) kg, means (SE)] participated in the experiment. The maximal integrated electromyographic activity (IEMG max) of four ipsilateral muscles, flexor digitorum (FD), biceps brachii (BB), rectus abdominalis (RA) and vastus lateralis (VA), was recorded. Then, after 30 min of rest, the subjects maintained a submaximal isometric handgrip for 2 min. Heart rate (HR), systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure and surface electromyography (EMG) of the four muscles were recorded. The amplitude and power spectrum of the EMG were analysed. During the handgrip the force was kept constant at 43 (1)% of the maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) only for 90 (12) s. After that time, the subjects were unable to maintain the target force which decreased continuously up to the end of the contraction (P<0.01) with a residual force of 27 (3)% MVC at t = 120 s. HR increased from 75 (3) beats x min(-1) at rest to 109 (6) beats x min(-1) at t = 120 s (P<0.01). SBP and DBP also increased from 112 (5) and 81 (2) mm Hg to 176 (5) and 133 (7) mm Hg, respectively (P<0.01). The EMG activity rose significantly for both FD and BB with a moderate increase for RA and VL. In fact, the individual contributions of FD and BB to the EMG activity of the four muscles were 52 (2)% and 37 (2)%, respectively, whereas the RA and VL contributed only 9 (1)% and 1.4 (0.1)%. The amplitude ratio of FD's EMG to the total EMG activity of the four muscles from which recordings were made decreased with time from 72% to 33% (P<0.01). The central command's level of activation, as reflected by the increased EMG activity of the four recorded muscles, was probably high enough to stimulate the cardiovascular centres through cortical spread (sometimes known as cortical irradiation). On the other hand, maintaining an isometric handgrip at 43% MVC reduced local muscle blood flow and metabolites known to stimulate type III and IV afferents then accumulated, which in turn induced a reflex-mediated elevation of blood pressure. However, the relative forces developed by the co-contracting muscles were of low intensity (less than 20% MVC) and short duration compared to those of the muscle group under study. These results suggest that the mass of the muscle groups recruited during a fatiguing submaximal handgrip contributes little to the cardiovascular response.

Influence of posture and training on the endurance time of a low-level isometric contraction.

Classically, the critical force of a muscle (the relative force below which an isometric contraction can be maintained for a very long time without fatigue) is comprised of between 15 and 20% of its maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). However, some authors believe that the value is below 10% MVC. If such is the case, signs that accompany the establishment of muscle fatigue (EMG changes, continuous increase in systolic blood pressure [SBP] and heart rate [HR]) would have to appear more rapidly and with a higher intensity if the muscle is already partially fatigued at the start of maintaining a contraction at 10% MVC. Twelve healthy untrained participants carried out two isometric contractions with the digit flexors: one (test A) began with a maximum contraction sustained for 4 min followed without interruption by a contraction at 10% MVC for 61 min; the other (test B) was a contraction maintained at 10% MVC for 65 min. For test B, after an initial increase of 4 bpm with respect to at rest, HR remained stable until the end of contraction, SBP progressively increased by 24 mm Hg in 28 min, then remained unchanged until the end, and there were no significant changes in EMG (absence of spectral deviation towards low frequencies). For test A, in spite of the initial maximum contraction, changes in the parameters being studied (total maintenance time, HR, SBP, EMG) during maintenance at 10% MVC were identical to those for test B. The results show that (1) when the number and intensity of the co-contractions are minimized by applying an appropriate posture, it is possible to sustain an isometric contraction at 10% MVC for at least 65 min without the appearance of signs of muscle fatigue; (2) the critical force of the digit flexors is higher than 10% MVC.