The influence of chronic training status on the mechanical behavior of the vastus lateralis during repetitive trapezoidal contractions

Objectives:To examine maximal strength and fatigability of the knee extensors, and mechanomyographic amplitude (MMG_RMS)–force relationships of the vastus lateralis (VL) during repetitive muscle actions for 5 aerobically-(AT), 5 resistance-trained-(RT), and 5 sedentary (SED) individuals.Methods:Participants performed maximal voluntary contractions before (MVC_PRE) and after (MVC_POST) attempting 20 isometric trapezoidal muscle actions at 50% MVC_PRE. MMG was recorded from the VL. b terms (slopes) were calculated from the natural log-transformed MMG_RMS-force relationships for each participant (increasing and decreasing segments). MMG_RMS was averaged during steady force.Results:RT had greater MVC_PRE (P<0.001) and MVC_POST (P=0.001–0.004) than AT and SED. Only AT completed 20 muscle actions and exhibited no decrease in MVC_POST (P=0.149). The b terms were greater for RT than AT during the increasing segment of the first contraction (P=0.001) and decreasing segment of the last contraction (P=0.033). The b terms were also greater for RT (P=0.006) during the increasing than decreasing segment for the first contraction. MMG_RMS during steady force was greater during the last contraction when collapsed across training status (P=0.021).Conclusion:Knee extensor MVC and fatigability, and motor unit control strategies for the VL during a series of repetitive contractions were influenced by chronic training status.