Tweet
J Neurol. 2013 Mar 13. [Epub ahead of print]
Neural drive increases following resistance training in patients with multiple
sclerosis.
Dalgas U, Stenager E, Lund C, Rasmussen C, Petersen T, Sørensen H,
Ingemann-Hansen T, Overgaard K.
Section of Sport Science, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Dalgas
Avenue 4, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
The present study tested the hypothesis that lower body progressive resistance
training (PRT) increases the neural drive expressed as surface
electromyographical (EMG) activity in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The
study was a randomised controlled trial (RCT) including a 12-week follow up
period.
Thirty-eight MS patients were randomized to an exercise group (n = 19) or
a control group (n = 19). During the intervention period, the exercise group
performed a 12-week supervised lower body PRT program, whereas the control group
maintained their usual daily activity level. After the 12 week intervention
period, the exercise group were encouraged to continue training on their own for
a 12-week follow up period, while the control group completed the 12-week
supervised PRT program. Surface EMG was recorded from vastus lateralis, rectus
femoris and semitendinosus during maximal isometric knee extension and knee
flexion, before and after the intervention and at follow up. From the recordings,
the area under the rectified, low-pass filtered EMG signal (integrated EMG, iEMG)
was calculated. Muscle strength was expressed as the angular impulse (AI) and was
measured during the same period as the iEMG.
After PRT significant improvements
for iEMG of vastus lateralis and rectus femoris during maximal knee extension and
for semitendinosus during maximal knee flexion and for AI during both maximal
knee extension and flexion were found in the exercise group, when compared to the
control group. When compared to the post values, all effects, except for AI
during knee flexion, were maintained at follow up in the exercise group. When the
control group was exposed to PRT, a similar pattern of improvements were found,
albeit not all improvements were significant. In conclusion twelve weeks of
intense PRT of the lower extremities improved the neural drive expressed as
maximal surface EMG activity in patients with MS, with effects persisting
12 weeks after the intervention. The study was registered at clinicalTrials.gov,
Protocol no. NCT00381576.
PMID: 23483214
Neural drive increases following resistance training in patients with multiple
sclerosis.
Dalgas U, Stenager E, Lund C, Rasmussen C, Petersen T, Sørensen H,
Ingemann-Hansen T, Overgaard K.
Section of Sport Science, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Dalgas
Avenue 4, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
The present study tested the hypothesis that lower body progressive resistance
training (PRT) increases the neural drive expressed as surface
electromyographical (EMG) activity in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The
study was a randomised controlled trial (RCT) including a 12-week follow up
period.
Thirty-eight MS patients were randomized to an exercise group (n = 19) or
a control group (n = 19). During the intervention period, the exercise group
performed a 12-week supervised lower body PRT program, whereas the control group
maintained their usual daily activity level. After the 12 week intervention
period, the exercise group were encouraged to continue training on their own for
a 12-week follow up period, while the control group completed the 12-week
supervised PRT program. Surface EMG was recorded from vastus lateralis, rectus
femoris and semitendinosus during maximal isometric knee extension and knee
flexion, before and after the intervention and at follow up. From the recordings,
the area under the rectified, low-pass filtered EMG signal (integrated EMG, iEMG)
was calculated. Muscle strength was expressed as the angular impulse (AI) and was
measured during the same period as the iEMG.
After PRT significant improvements
for iEMG of vastus lateralis and rectus femoris during maximal knee extension and
for semitendinosus during maximal knee flexion and for AI during both maximal
knee extension and flexion were found in the exercise group, when compared to the
control group. When compared to the post values, all effects, except for AI
during knee flexion, were maintained at follow up in the exercise group. When the
control group was exposed to PRT, a similar pattern of improvements were found,
albeit not all improvements were significant. In conclusion twelve weeks of
intense PRT of the lower extremities improved the neural drive expressed as
maximal surface EMG activity in patients with MS, with effects persisting
12 weeks after the intervention. The study was registered at clinicalTrials.gov,
Protocol no. NCT00381576.
PMID: 23483214