Author(s): A Arulkumar and Dr. P Babu

Abstract:
This study investigated effects of plyometric training (6 weeks, 3 sessions/week) on maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) strength and neural activation of the wrist Extensors during isometric, concentric and eccentric contractions. Thirty participants were randomly assigned to the Trained or untrained group for this study. Maximum voluntary torques (MVT) during the different types of contraction were measured at 110° wrist flexion (180°=full extension). The interpolated twitch technique was applied at the same wrist joint angle during isometric, concentric and eccentric contractions to measure voluntary activation. In addition, normalized root mean square of the EMG signal at MVT was calculated. The shot put throwing distance was measured after the training. After training, MVT increased by 15 N-m 26 N-m, and 26N-m (P ≤0.015) for isometric, concentric and eccentric MVCs compared to controls, respectively. The strength enhancements were associated with increases in voluntary activation during isometric, concentric and eccentric MVCs by 8.4%, 7.6% and 10.2% (P≤0.031) respectively. Given the fact that the training exercises consisted of eccentric muscle actions followed by concentric contractions, it is in particular relevant that the plyometric training increased MVC strength and neural activation of the forearm muscle regardless of the contraction mode.

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