title: Reproducibility of electromyographic and mechanical parameters of the triceps surae during submaximal and maximal plantar flexions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Neuromuscular parameters must be reproducible to examine neuromuscular adaptations in interventional and clinical studies. The reproducibility of neuromuscular parameters for the soleus (SOL), lateral gastrocnemius (LG), and medial gastrocnemius (MG) was assessed over a period of 2 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen subjects (27.4 years, 69.5 kg) were tested for numerous electromyographic (e.g., voluntary and electrical evoked EMG) and mechanical (e.g., voluntary activation level) parameters in 3 test sessions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of the data (28 of 34) revealed moderate and substantial reproducibility. Hmax20% /Mmax20% and Vsup /Msup were less reproducible in LG than in MG and SOL. Muscle activity and M-waves did not differ between muscles. The ICC for the mechanical data was >0.79.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The H-reflex during voluntary contraction of the LG should be considered with caution. Mechanical data on muscle activation level are reproducible. The reproducibility of neuromuscular parameters is sufficient for interventional studies.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport and Movement Science, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 28, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Norman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stutzig
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sport and Movement Science, University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 28, 70569, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Siebert
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004576:Electromyography; D019054:Evoked Potentials, Motor / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006181:H-Reflex; D006801:Humans; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013979:Tibial Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D019415:Torque; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: H-reflex, M-wave; V-wave; neuromuscular parameters; reliability, twitch interpolation technique; voluntary muscle activity