Motor Unit Recruitment Plays an Important Role in Determining the Relationship between Muscle Force and Force Variability

Wan X Yao*, William M Land and Yufei Huang

Received: July 23, 2018;   Published: September 10, 2018

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2018.08.001722

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Abstract

Literature shows that force variability increases when force levels increase. However, this constant increase occurs only to a certain point (e.g., at around 50% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) and 80% MVC). After this point, the increase of force variability either slows [1,2] or stops [3-5]. The potential underlying mechanism accounting for the changing rate of increase in force variability is discussed in this brief review. It concludes that among several factors, motor-unit recruitment appears to be the most important factor in determining the relationship between force and force variability although both motor unit discharge rate variability and synchronization have a significant impact on force variability as well.

Keywords: Motor Unit Recruitment; Discharge Rate; Motor Unit Synchronization; Force Variability

Abstract | Introduction | Motor-Unit Recruitment | Discharge Rate | Synchronization | Conclusion | References |