Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Relative Importance And Plasticity Of Anatomical And Neuromuscular Factors Affecting Joint Torque Production, Joanne C. Trezise

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The present research aimed to determine (i) the relative influence anatomical and neuromuscular variables on maximal isometric, concentric and eccentric knee extensor torque (Study 1); (ii) whether the change in strength following a 10-week strength training program is associated with changes in specific anatomical and neuromuscular variables (Study 2a); (iii) whether anatomical and neuromuscular adaptations are dependent on their pre-training magnitudes; and (iv) whether it is possible to ‘predict’ an individual’s adaptation to strength training based on their anatomical and neuromuscular pre-training magnitudes (Study 2b).

The variables assessed throughout the studies include muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), fascicle length and angle …

Mechanisms Affecting Post-Activation Potentiation Following Voluntary Isokinetic Knee Extension, Laurent B. Seitz

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The present research was designed to: 1) determine whether the voluntary PAP effects commonly observed after conditioning activity (CA; i.e. muscular contraction prior to a ‘test’ contraction) are a consequence of acute neuromuscular alterations relating to the CA itself, or whether they simply reflect warm-up and/or familiarisation effects; 2) clarify the influence of the contraction velocity, duration and total work characteristics of the CA on voluntary PAP; 3) determine the factors allowing stronger individuals to express higher level of voluntary PAP; and 4) determine the peripheral and central mechanisms of voluntary PAP in human skeletal muscle. In Study 1, the …