title: Are H-reflex and M-wave recruitment curve parameters related to aerobic capacity?
abstract: Soleus Hoffmann reflex (H-reflex) amplitude is affected by a training period and type and level of training are also well known to modify aerobic capacities. Previously, paired changes in H-reflex and aerobic capacity have been evidenced after endurance training. The aim of this study was to investigate possible links between H- and M-recruitment curve parameters and aerobic capacity collected on a cohort of subjects (56 young men) that were not involved in regular physical training. Maximal H-reflex normalized with respect to maximal M-wave (H(max)/M(max)) was measured as well as other parameters of the H- or M-recruitment curves that provide information about the reflex or direct excitability of the motoneuron pool, such as thresholds of stimulus intensity to obtain H or M response (H(th) and M(th)), the ascending slope of H-reflex, or M-wave recruitment curves (H(slp) and M(slp)) and their ratio (H(slp)/M(slp)). Aerobic capacity, i.e., maximal oxygen consumption and maximal aerobic power (MAP) were, respectively, estimated from a running field test and from an incremental test on a cycle ergometer. Maximal oxygen consumption was only correlated with M(slp), an indicator of muscle fiber heterogeneity (p < 0.05), whereas MAP was not correlated with any of the tested parameters (p > 0.05). Although higher H-reflex are often described for subjects with a high aerobic capacity because of endurance training, at a basic level (i.e., without training period context) no correlation was observed between maximal H-reflex and aerobic capacity. Thus, none of the H-reflex or M-wave recruitment curve parameters, except M(slp), was related to the aerobic capacity of young, untrained male subjects.
authors.affiliation: Université de Technologie de Compiègne, Biomécanique et Bioingénierie, Compiègne CEDEX, France.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Piscione
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Grosset
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gamet
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pérot
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054874:Athletic Performance; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005080:Exercise Test; D006181:H-Reflex; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology*; D009213:Myography; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010807:Physical Endurance; D011999:Recruitment, Neurophysiological; D012420:Running; D055815:Young Adult