Agonist contractions against electrically stimulated antagonists.
OBJECTIVE
To assess an exercise program that uses electrically stimulated antagonists to resist agonist muscle contractions.


METHODS
In 1 limb, electrically stimulated antagonists resisted elbow flexion and extension. In the other, stimulation occurred without volitional muscle contraction.


METHODS
A biomechanics laboratory in Japan.


METHODS
Twelve men between the ages of 19 and 24 years. Subjects served as their own controls.


METHODS
Subjects trained 3 times a week for 12 weeks. Each session consisted of 10 sets of 10 elbow flexor and extensor contractions.


METHODS
Isokinetic elbow extension and flexion torques. Biceps and triceps brachii cross-sectional areas.


RESULTS
Elbow extension torques increased (32.85% at 30 degrees/s, 27.20% at 60 degrees/s, 26.16% at 90 degrees/s; all P<or=.02) over the training period in limbs that trained against electrically stimulated antagonists. Control limb extension torque increases were smaller (8.52% -14.91%) and did not reach statistical significance. Elbow flexion torques improved in both groups, but the changes did not reach statistical significance. Cross-sectional areas increased in all muscles but were most marked in the antagonist stimulated limbs: triceps 16.20% versus 4.25% (P=.01) and biceps 16.65% versus 7.00% (P=.005).


CONCLUSIONS
Exercises that use electrically stimulated antagonist muscles may be effective in increasing muscle strength and mass.
Yanagi
Tojiro
T
Rehabilitation Center, Kurume University, Kurume City, Fukuoka, Japan.
Shiba
Naoto
N
Maeda
Takashi
T
Iwasa
Kiyohiko
K
Umezu
Yuichi
Y
Tagawa
Yoshihiko
Y
Matsuo
Shigeaki
S
Nagata
Kensei
K
Yamamoto
Toshiyasu
T
Basford
Jeffrey R
JR
D000328:Adult; D004550:Elbow / Q000502:physiology; D004551:Elbow Joint / Q000502:physiology; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D010807:Physical Endurance; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000502:physiology; D019415:Torque