Neuromuscular function during knee extension exercise after cold water immersion

• Published in: Journal of physiological anthropology 2017-06, Vol.36 (1), p.28-28, Article 28
• Main Authors: Wakabayashi, Hitoshi, Wijayanto, Titis, Tochihara, Yutaka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acclimatization; Adaptability; Adult; Cold; Cold Temperature; Cold water immersion; Contraction; Cryotherapy; Data processing; Electrodes; Electromyography; Exercise; Experiments; Health aspects; Human performance; Humans; Hypothermia, Induced; Hypothermic skeletal muscle; Immersion; Knee; Knee - physiology; Knee muscles; Laboratories; Male; Mean power frequency; Muscle contraction; Muscle Contraction - physiology; Muscle function; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Musculoskeletal system; Original; Personal computers; Physical fitness; Physiology; Skin; Temperature effects; Velocity; Water temperature; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1880-6805; 1880-6791; 1880-6805
• DOI: 10.1186/s40101-017-0144-8

Human adaptability to cold environment has been focused on in the physiological anthropology and related research area. Concerning the human acclimatization process in the natural climate, it is necessary to conduct a research assessing comprehensive effect of cold environment and physical activities in cold. This study investigated the effect of cold water immersion on the exercise performance and neuromuscular function during maximal and submaximal isometric knee extension. Nine healthy males participated in this study. They performed maximal and submaximal (20, 40, and 60% maximal load) isometric knee extension pre- and post-immersion in 23, 26, and 34 °C water. The muscle activity of the rectus femoris (RF) and vastus lateralis (VL) was measured using surface electromyography (EMG). The percentages of the maximum voluntary contraction (%MVC) and mean power frequency (MPF) of EMG data were analyzed. The post-immersion maximal force was significantly lower in 23 °C than in 26 and 34 °C conditions (P