Myoelectrical and mechanical changes linked to length specificity during isometric training

Abstract

Mechanical and neural activation changes that accompanied muscle isometric training were studied in males. Training and testing sessions consisted of right elbow isometric flexions. Each experimental group was trained during 5 wk at one of the following angles: 25, 80, and 120 degrees. Bipolar surface electromyogram (EMG) was recorded from the biceps brachii and brachioradialis muscles. An improvement of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) was always found at the training angle and was systematically greater than at the other angles. Moreover, the shorter the muscle length at which the training has been carried out, the more the gain was limited to the training angle. An increase of the maximal integrated EMG of both biceps brachii and brachioradialis frequently accompanied the improvement of MVC at the training angle.