Effects of training programs based on ipsilateral voluntary and stimulated contractions on muscle strength and monopedal postural control of the contralateral limb

• Published in: European journal of applied physiology 2017-09, Vol.117 (9), p.1799-1806
• Main Authors: Kadri, Mohamed Abdelhafid, Noé, Frederic, Nouar, Merbouha Boulahbel, Paillard, Thierry
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Ankle; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Human Physiology; Humans; Isometric Contraction; Life Sciences; Limbs; Lower Extremity - physiology; Male; Muscle Strength; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Neuromuscular electrical stimulation; Neurons and Cognition; Occupational Medicine/Industrial Medicine; Original Article; Postural Balance; Posture; Quadriceps muscle; Resistance Training - adverse effects; Resistance Training - methods; Sports Medicine
• ISSN: 1439-6319; 1439-6327
• DOI: 10.1007/s00421-017-3676-z

Purpose To compare the effects of unilateral strength training by stimulated and voluntary contractions on muscle strength and monopedal postural control of the contralateral limb. Methods 36 non-active healthy male subjects were recruited and split randomly into three groups. Two groups of 12 subjects took part in a strength-training program (3 sessions a week over 8 weeks) comprising 43 contractions of the quadriceps femoris of the ipsilateral limb (at 20% of the MVC). One group carried out voluntary contractions exclusively (VOL group), while the other group benefited exclusively from electro-induced contractions (NMES group). The other 12 subjects formed the control (CON) group. Assessments of MVC and monopedal postural control in static and dynamic postural tasks were performed with the ipsilateral (ISPI) and contralateral (CONTRA) limbs before (PRE) and after (POST) completion of the training program. Results After the training program, the MVC of the IPSI and CONTRA limbs increased similarly for both experimental groups (VOL and NMES). There were no significant improvements of monopedal postural control for the IPSI or CONTRA limbs in either the VOL or NMES experimental group. No change was observed for the CON group over the protocol period. Conclusion The purposed training program with NMES vs VOL contractions induced strength gains but did not permit any improvement of contralateral monopedal postural control in healthy young subjects. This has potential for therapeutic application and allows clinicians to focus their training programs on dynamic and poly-articular exercises to improve the postural control in young subjects.