Resistance training alters the sensorimotor control of vasti muscles.
The present study examined and compared two modes of weight training (bodybuilding and power-lifting) on the surface EMG of vasti muscles, knee joint position sense and isometric knee extension force in 48 able-bodied subjects. Subjects were randomly allocated into either a moderate loading and repetitions (bodybuilding) training or a high loading and low repetitions (power-lifting) training, or a no training control group. Training was conducted on alternate days with individual supervision. After 8 weeks of training, subjects from both training groups showed significantly earlier EMG onset timing and higher amplitude of vastus medialis obliquus relative to vastus lateralis (p=0.005 or <0.001), and improved knee joint position sense (p<0.001), but no such changes were found in the control group. However, the changes were not significantly different (p>0.05) between the two training groups. The findings suggested that the neuromotor control of the vasti muscles could be altered by regular weight training.
Wong
Y M
YM
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Ng
Gabriel
G
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D056228:Feedback, Sensory / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology*; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D055815:Young Adult