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Changes in elbow joint’s musculo-articular mechanical properties do not alter reaching-related action-perception coupling

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European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Perception of action capabilities can be altered by changes in sensorimotor processes, as showed in previous works in populations dealing with regular and pathological sensorimotor deficits. Misestimating changes in performance ability could lead to risky behavior, injury, and/or reduced performance. However, the relationship between sensorimotor processes, the action-perception coupling, and the related anatomical structures is still a matter of debate. We investigated whether changes in the muscle–tendon system’s mechanical properties experimentally induced by eccentric contractions could alter the action-perception coupling (APC) in a reaching-to-grasp task, in which the participants estimated the maximal distance they predicted that they would able to reach a glass.

Methods

Based on their repartition, volunteers performed a conditioning session the first day: a series of isokinetic elbow extension in passive condition (control group, n = 11) or when performing elbow flexors eccentric contractions (eccentric group, n = 11). Performance estimates and actual performances in a reaching-to-grasp task were completed before, and immediately, 24 hours and 48 hours after the conditioning session. Alterations of musculo-articular mechanical properties were assessed through global joint stiffness (joint passive torque through load/unload cycles) and local stiffness (muscle elastography).

Results

The results showed that the APC related to reaching-to-grasp performance was not impacted by post-exercise changes in mechanical properties of the musculo-articular system.

Conclusion

These findings emphasize the central dimension of sensorimotor processing instead of peripheral structures to investigate the APC for an altered sensorimotor environment.

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Abbreviations

Actual-D max :

Maximal actual reaching-to-grasp performance

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

APC:

Action-perception coupling

APratio :

Action-perception coupling ratio

BB:

Biceps brachii

CS:

Conditioning session

CTL:

Control

DOMs:

Delayed onset muscle soreness

ECC:

Eccentric

EMG:

Electromyography

MAS:

Musculo-articular stiffness

MVC:

Maximal voluntary contraction

Perceived-D max :

Maximal perceived reaching-to-grasp performance

p η 2 :

Partial-eta-squared values

RMS:

Root mean square

TB:

Triceps brachii

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Dr René Faynot for performing the medical examination. The research was supported by grants from the Region of Pays de la Loire, France, for the Project “RP3AP”. The sponsors had no role in the design and conduct of the study, in the collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data, or in the preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory “Movement, Interactions, Performance” (EA 4334), University of Nantes, 25 bis boulevard Guy Mollet, BP 72206, 44000, Nantes Cedex 3, France

    Yannick Daviaux, Thibault Deschamps & Christophe Cornu

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  1. Yannick Daviaux
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  2. Thibault Deschamps
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  3. Christophe Cornu
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Correspondence to Thibault Deschamps.

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Communicated by Olivier Seynnes.

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Daviaux, Y., Deschamps, T. & Cornu, C. Changes in elbow joint’s musculo-articular mechanical properties do not alter reaching-related action-perception coupling. Eur J Appl Physiol 117, 819–832 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3570-8

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