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dc.contributor.advisorHerda, Trent J
dc.contributor.authorSterczala, Adam J
dc.date.accessioned2019-09-06T20:12:53Z
dc.date.available2019-09-06T20:12:53Z
dc.date.issued2018-08-31
dc.date.submitted2018
dc.identifier.otherhttp://dissertations.umi.com/ku:16053
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1808/29559
dc.description.abstractIntroduction: Previous investigations regarding the effects of resistance training on motor unit (MU) behavior during submaximal contractions have yielded inconclusive results. These investigations have predominantly analyzed composite firing rate averages, neglecting the recruitment thresholds and sizes. Analysis of MU firing rates in relation to recruitment threshold and size could provide additional insight in changes in MU recruitment patterns, which could influence reported firing rates. Though resistance training may increase fatigue resistance and twitch potentiation, the influence of such adaptations on MU behavior during submaximal contractions is unknown. Methods: We analyzed the influence of resistance training on MU behavior via cross-sectional comparisons of highly resistance trained individuals and physically active controls and longitudinal analyses before and after an eight-week resistance training intervention. The first project analyzed the relationships between MU firing rates, sizes and recruitment threshold in the highly resistance trained individuals and sedentary controls to determine if long-term training altered MU behavior during submaximal contractions. The second project analyzed the relationships between MU firing rates, sizes and recruitment threshold before and after the resistance training intervention to determine if the intervention altered MU firing rates and recruitment during submaximal contractions. The third project analyzed MU behavior during repetitive contractions before and after the resistance-training intervention to determine if training induced increases in potentiation could further reduce the muscle activation required to sustain a given force. Conclusions: Highly resistance trained individuals demonstrated reduced MU firing rates and recruitment during 40% MVC contractions compared to the physically active controls. The resistance training intervention elicited significant MU hypertrophy altering the relationship between MU firing rate and size. In addition, the resistance training intervention reduced the muscle activation required to produce the same absolute force. Data from the repetitive contractions indicated that subjects were able to perform the second post-training contraction with reduced MU recruitment relative to the first post-training contraction, likely, as a result of resistance training induced increases in twitch potentiation. Together the projects demonstrate that resistance training can alter MU firing rates and recruitment during submaximal contractions. These adaptations reduce the muscle activation required to sustain a given force, thus reducing fatigue.
dc.format.extent131 pages
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherUniversity of Kansas
dc.rightsCopyright held by the author.
dc.subjectKinesiology
dc.subjectElectromyography
dc.subjectHypertrophy
dc.subjectMotor Unit
dc.subjectMuscle
dc.subjectResistance Training
dc.titleThe effects of resistance training on motor unit firing rates and recruitment during submaximal contractions
dc.typeDissertation
dc.contributor.cmtememberFry, Andrew C
dc.contributor.cmtememberGallagher, Phillip M
dc.contributor.cmtememberWeir, Joseph P
dc.contributor.cmtememberBrumberg, Jonathan s
dc.thesis.degreeDisciplineHealth, Sport and Exercise Sciences
dc.thesis.degreeLevelPh.D.
dc.identifier.orcidhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0322-6836
dc.rights.accessrightsopenAccess


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