Human muscle energetics during voluntary and electrically induced isometric contractions as measured by 31P NMR spectroscopy.

Electrical stimulation (ES) and voluntary contraction (VC) were compared in the quadriceps muscle of ten male volunteers. In both modes, a workload corresponding to 20% of maximal voluntary contraction was applied during 64 isometric contraction (5.5 s)-relaxation (5.5 s) cycles. The protocols were performed in a 1.5 T whole-body magnet. The Pi/PCr ratio and the intracellular pH (pHi) were monitored by 31P NMR spectroscopy during baseline, exercise and recovery periods, in a superficial region of the vastus medialis. During baseline, the Pi/PCr ratio (0.12 vs. 0.10) and the pHi (7.01 vs. 7.00) were comparable in both conditions. During exercise, the Pi/PCr ratio was higher (0.36 vs. 0.14) and the pHi was lower (6.85 vs. 7.07) during ES than during VC. For the same external work production, these results reflect a different metabolic solicitation in the ES quadriceps than in the VC ones.