[Antagonist muscle coactivation and muscle inhibition: effects on external torque regulation and resistance training-induced adaptations]

Abstract

This review aims at analysing the influence of antagonist muscle coactivation and muscle inhibition on the ability of the neuromuscular system to produce an external torque and to account for changes in these two mechanisms with resistance training. Indeed, antagonist muscle coactivation and muscle inhibition occur during muscle contraction in order to preserve joint integrity. The origin of these two mechanisms would be both spinal and supraspinal and would tend to decrease with resistance training, which allows, under certain conditions, increasing the external torque developed. However, antagonist muscle coactivation and muscle inhibition depend on the characteristics of movement. Moreover, the origin and the contribution of supraspinal mechanisms to the antagonist muscle coactivation and muscle inhibition processes have to be specified.