ORCID Profile
0000-0002-6876-7190
Current Organisations
Brazilian Institute of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology
,
Edith Cowan University
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Publisher: American Physiological Society
Date: 2020
DOI: 10.1152/JAPPLPHYSIOL.00595.2019
Abstract: Fatiguing exercise causes a reduction in motor drive to the muscle. Group III/IV muscle afferent firing is thought to contribute to this process however, the effect on corticospinal and intracortical networks is poorly understood. In two experiments, participants performed sustained maximal isometric finger abductions of the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) muscle, with postexercise blood flow occlusion (OCC) to maintain the firing of group III/IV afferents or without occlusion (control CON). Before and after exercise, single- and paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) tested motor evoked potentials (MEPs), intracortical facilitation [ICF (12 ms)], and short-interval intracortical inhibition [SICI 2 (2 ms), SICI 3 (3 ms)]. Ulnar nerve stimulation elicited maximal M waves (M MAX ). For experiment 1 ( n = 16 participants), TMS intensities were 70% and 120% of resting motor threshold (RMT) for the conditioning and MEP stimuli, respectively. For experiment 2 ( n = 16 participants), the MEP was maintained at 1 mV before and after exercise and the conditioning stimulus in idualized. In experiment 1, MEP/M MAX was reduced after exercise (~48%, P = 0.007) but was not different between conditions. No changes occurred in ICF or SICI. In experiment 2, MEP/M MAX increased (~27%, P = 0.027) and less inhibition (SICI 2 : ~21%, P = 0.021) occurred after exercise for both conditions, whereas ICF decreased for CON only (~28%, P = 0.006). MEPs and SICI 2 were modulated by fatiguing contractions but not by group III/IV afferent firing, whereas sustained afferent firing appeared to counteract postexercise reductions in ICF in FDI. The findings do not support the idea that actions of group III/IV afferents on motor cortical networks contribute to the reduction in voluntary activation observed in other studies. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is the first study to investigate, in human hand muscles, the action of fatigue-related group III/IV muscle afferent firing on intracortical facilitation and inhibition. In fatigued and nonexercised hand muscles, intracortical inhibition is reduced after exercise but is not modulated differently by the firing of group III/IV afferents. However, facilitation is maintained for the fatigued muscle when group III/IV afferents fire, but these results are unlikely to explain the reduction in voluntary activation observed in other studies.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 25-03-2019
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 05-2015
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 02-2022
DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002797
Abstract: We examined whether the magnitude of muscle damage indicated by changes in maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) strength 1 to 3 d after unaccustomed eccentric exercise (ECC) was correlated with changes in central and peripheral neuromuscular parameters immediately post-ECC. Twenty participants (19–36 yr) performed six sets of eight eccentric contractions of the knee extensors. Rate of force development (RFD) during knee extensor MVIC, twitch force, rate of force development (RFD RT ) and rate of relaxation (RR RT ) of the resting twitch, maximal M-wave (M MAX ), voluntary activation, silent period duration, motor-evoked potentials (MEP) and short-interval intracortical inhibition were assessed before, immediately after, and 1 to 3 d post-ECC. Relationships between changes in these variables immediately post-ECC and changes in MVIC strength at 1 to 3 d post-ECC were examined by Pearson product–moment ( r ) or Spearman correlations. Maximal voluntary isometric contraction strength decreased (−22.2% ± 18.4%) immediately postexercise, and remained below baseline at 1 (−16.3% ± 15.2%), 2 (−14.7% ± 13.2%) and 3 d post-ECC (−8.6% ± 15.7%). Immediately post-ECC, RFD (0–30-ms: −38.3% ± 31.4%), twitch force (−45.9% ± 22.4%), RFD RT (−32.5% ± 40.7%), RR RT (−38.0% ± 39.7%), voluntary activation (−21.4% ± 16.5%) and MEP / M MAX at rest (−42.5% ± 23.3%) also decreased, whereas the silent period duration at 10%-MVIC increased by 26.0% ± 12.2% ( P 0.05). Decreases in RFD at 0 to 30 ms, 0 to 50 ms, and 0 to 100 ms immediately post-ECC were correlated ( P 0.05) with changes in MVIC strength at 1 d ( r = 0.56–0.60) and 2 d post-ECC ( r = 0.53–0.63). Changes in MEP / M MAX at 10%-MVIC immediately post-ECC were correlated with changes in MVIC strength at 1 d ( r = −0.53) and 2 d ( r = −0.54) post-ECC ( P 0.05). The magnitude of decrease in MVIC strength at 1 to 3 d after ECC was associated with the magnitude of changes in RFD and MEP / M MAX immediately post-ECC. However, based on in idual data, these markers were not sensitive for the practical detection of muscle damage.
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 11-2016
DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001606
Abstract: Lima, CD, Brown, LE, Wong, MA, Leyva, WD, Pinto, RS, Cadore, EL, and Ruas, CV. Acute effects of static vs. ballistic stretching on strength and muscular fatigue between ballet dancers and resistance-trained women. J Strength Cond Res 30(11): 3220–3227, 2016—Stretching is used to increase joint range of motion, but the acute effects can decrease muscle strength. However, this may depend on the population or mode of stretching. The purpose of this study was to compare the acute effects of static vs. ballistic stretching on strength and muscular fatigue between ballet dancers and resistance-trained women. Fifteen resistance-trained women (age 23.8 ± 1.80 years, mass 67.47 ± 7.77 kg, height 168.30 ± 5.53 cm) and 12 ballet dancers (age 22.8 ± 3.04 years, mass 58.67 ± 5.65 kg, height 168.00 ± 7.69 cm) performed 5 days of testing. The first day was control (no stretching), whereas the other 4 days were static or ballistic stretching in a counterbalanced order. Range of motion, strength, and fatigue tests were also performed. Both groups demonstrated a significant decrease in hamstrings strength after static (102.71 ± 2.67 N·m) and ballistic stretching (99.49 ± 2.61 N·m) compared with control (113.059 ± 3.25 N·m), with no changes in quadriceps strength. For fatigue, only ballet dancers demonstrated a decrease from control (71.79 ± 4.88%) to ballistic (65.65 ± 8.19%), but no difference with static (65.01 ± 12.29%). These findings suggest that stretching decreases hamstrings strength similarly in ballet dancers and resistance-trained women, with no differences between modes of stretching. However, ballistic stretching only decreased muscular fatigue in ballet dancers, but not in resistance-trained women. Therefore, no stretching should be performed before strength performance. However, ballistic stretching may decrease acute muscular fatigue in ballet dancers.
Publisher: Australian International Academic Centre
Date: 31-01-2017
DOI: 10.7575/AIAC.IJKSS.V.5N.1P.35
Abstract: Ultrasound muscle images have been extensively used as tools for investigating, diagnosing and monitoring thigh muscles. However, there is a lack of information examining ultrasound reliability of quadriceps and hamstrings images for research and clinical use. Objectives: To determine the reliability of muscle thickness (MT), echo intensity (EI) and cross sectional area (CSA) of quadriceps and hamstrings muscle groups. Methods: Single transverse images of the rectus femoris (RF), vastus intermedius (VI), vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL), biceps femoris long head (BFlh), semitendinosus (ST), and semimembranosus (SM) muscles were scanned in the right and left legs of ten healthy collegiate men (age 23.4 ± 2.2 yrs, mass 71.7 ± 11.7 kg, height 1.73 ± 0.06 m) between two sessions with one day interval. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), standard error of measurement (SEM), and minimum difference to be considered “real” (MD) were measured for MT, EI, and CSA. Results: A range of 0.97-0.99, 0.83-0.88, and 0.86-0.97 (ICC) 0.72-1.38, 2.73-3.41, and 0.36-1.04 (SEM) and 2.01-3.82, 7.56-9.46, and 0.99-2.89 (MD) were found for quadriceps muscles, and 0.93-0.99, 0.74-0.90, and 0.89-0.96 (ICC) 0.73-1.94, 3.29-4.98, and 0.69-1.08 (SEM) and 2.03-5.38, 9.13-13.81, and 1.91-2.98 (MD) were found for hamstrings muscles. Conclusions: These results suggest that ultrasound imaging of both quadriceps and hamstrings muscle architecture is a reliable technique for assessing thigh musculoskeletal tissue. The anatomical sites, as well as ultrasound adjustments, images, and results utilized here may assist future researchers and clinicians as reference tools when measuring quadriceps and hamstrings musculature.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 05-2019
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 05-2016
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2020
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.JELEKIN.2019.02.002
Abstract: Tensiomyography (TMG) has gained popularity as a tool to quantify muscle contractile properties. However, it is unclear whether joint angle and inter-stimulus interval influence the test-retest reliability of TMG. Fifteen participants (13M/2F 29.5 ± 7.4 y) underwent TMG recording of the biceps brachii (BB) at 10°, 45° and 90° of elbow flexion with 10 and 20 s inter-stimulus rest intervals in a randomised order on two separate days. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 08-2018
DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000002134
Abstract: Ruas, CV, Brown, LE, Lima, CD, Costa, PB, and Pinto, RS. Effect of three different muscle action training protocols on knee strength ratios and performance. J Strength Cond Res 32(8): 2154–2165, 2018—Hamstring to quadriceps (H:Q) ratios are often used to assess strength imbalances. The aims of this study were to compare 3 different muscle action training protocols on H:Q strength balance and functional performance. Forty untrained men (age: 22.87 ± 2.28 years, mass: 70.66 ± 11.049 kg, ht: 174.29 ± 6.90 cm) performed 6 weeks of training on an isokinetic dynamometer. They were randomly assigned to one of 4 groups concentric quadriceps and concentric hamstring (CON/CON), eccentric quadriceps and eccentric hamstring (ECC/ECC), concentric quadriceps and eccentric hamstring (CON/ECC), or no training. Mixed Factor analyses of variance were used to compare interactions for variables pretest and posttest between groups ( p ≤ 0.05). The ECC/ECC group showed significant increases in H:Q functional ratio (pre = 0.73 ± 0.092, post = 0.87 ± 0.098), ECC peak torque (PT) (pre = 226.44 ± 67.80 N·m, post = 331.74 ± 54.44 N·m), isometric PT (IPT) (pre = 173.69 ± 41.41 N·m, post = 203.091 ± 30.82 N·m), countermovement jump (CMJ) (pre = 52.73 ± 6.95 cm, post = 58.16 ± 6.10 cm), and drop jump (DJ) (pre = 52.91 ± 6.080 cm, post = 58.20 ± 7.72 cm), whereas the CON/CON group increased the rate of torque development (pre = 152.19 ± 65.0074 N·m·s −1 , post = 225.26 ± 88.80 N·m·s −1 ). There were no differences between groups for CON PT, squat jump, conventional ratio or 40 m sprint. Our findings suggest that ECC/ECC training may be the most effective at increasing functional H:Q strength ratios, as well as ECC PT, IPT, CMJ, and DJ performance. Eccentric training increases ECC PT, thereby increasing the functional H:Q ratio. Eccentric training also improves vertical jumping involving ECC actions. CON/CON training may be more effective at increasing explosive muscle strength.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 12-10-2019
Abstract: Resistance training is often recommended for combined increases in traditional and alternative hamstrings-to-quadriceps (H:Q) ratios in order to reduce knee strength imbalance and associated hamstrings and knee ligament injury risk. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different concentric and eccentric resistance training programs on traditional and alternative H:Q ratios. Forty male volunteers were assigned to one of 4 groups: concentric quadriceps and concentric hamstrings (CON/CON, n = 10), eccentric quadriceps and eccentric hamstrings (ECC/ECC, n = 10), concentric quadriceps and eccentric hamstrings (CON/ECC, n = 10), or no training (control (CNTRL), n = 10). Traditional conventional (CR) and functional (FR), alternative rate of torque development (RTD), muscle size (MS), and muscle activation (MA) H:Q ratios were measured before and after six weeks of unilateral nondominant knee extension–flexion resistance training performed on an isokinetic dynamometer. The ECC/ECC training significantly increased FR (pre = 0.75 ± 0.11 post = 0.85 ± 0.15), whereas the lack of training (CNTRL) decreased the RTD H:Q ratio (pre = 1.10 ± 0.67 post = 0.73 ± 0.33). There were no differences between groups for the other traditional and alternative ratios following resistance training protocols. These findings suggest eccentric exercise for quadriceps and hamstrings as the most beneficial training program for inducing increases in the traditional FR. However, different resistance training strategies may be needed to also elicit increases in the alternative RTD, MS, and MA H:Q ratios for fully restoring muscle balance and reducing potential hamstrings and knee ligament injury risk.
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 05-2017
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 22-03-2023
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 05-2016
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 20-04-2023
Abstract: A common pre-season injury prevention assessment conducted by professional football clubs is the hamstring-to-quadriceps (H:Q) strength ratio calculated by peak torque (PT). However, it is debatable whether players that present low pre-season H:Q ratios are more susceptible to further sustaining in-season hamstring strain injuries (HSI). Based upon retrospective data from a Brazilian Serie A football squad, a particular season came to our attention as ten out of seventeen (~59%) professional male football players sustained HSI. Therefore, we examined the pre-season H:Q ratios of these players. H:Q conventional (CR) and functional (FR) ratios, and the respective knee extensor/flexor PT from the limbs of players further sustaining in-season HSI (injured players, IP) were compared to the proportional number of dominant/non-dominant limbs from uninjured players (UP) in the squad. FR and CR were ~18–22% lower (p 0.01), whereas quadriceps concentric PT was ~25% greater for IP than UP (p = 0.002). Low scores of FR and CR were correlated (p 0.01) with high levels of quadriceps concentric PT (r = −0.66 to −0.77). In conclusion, players who sustained in-season HSI had lower pre-season FR and CR compared to UP, which appears to be associated with higher levels of quadriceps concentric torque than hamstring concentric or eccentric torque.
Publisher: Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Date: 21-03-2018
Abstract: The aim of this study was to compare three specific concentric and eccentric muscle action training protocols on quadriceps-hamstrings neuromuscular adaptations. Forty male volunteers performed 6 weeks of training (two sessions/week) of their dominant and non-dominant legs on an isokinetic dynamometer. They were randomly assigned to one of four groups concentric quadriceps and concentric hamstrings (CON/CON, n=10), eccentric quadriceps and eccentric hamstrings (ECC/ECC, n=10), concentric quadriceps and eccentric hamstrings (CON/ECC, n=10), or no training (CTRL, n=10). Intensity of training was increased every week by decreasing the angular velocity for concentric and increasing it for eccentric groups in 30°/s increments. Volume of training was increased by adding one set every week. Dominant leg quadriceps and hamstrings muscle thickness, muscle quality, muscle activation, muscle coactivation, and electromechanical delay were tested before and after training. Results revealed that all training groups similarly increased MT of quadriceps and hamstrings compared to control (p .05). However, CON/ECC and ECC/ECC training elicited a greater magnitude of change. There were no significant differences between groups for all other neuromuscular variables (p .05). These findings suggest that different short-term muscle action isokinetic training protocols elicit similar muscle size increases in hamstrings and quadriceps, but not for other neuromuscular variables. Nevertheless, effect sizes indicate that CON/ECC and ECC/ECC may elicit the greatest magnitude of change in muscle hypertrophy.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 31-08-2015
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 2020
DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000002609
Abstract: Baroni, BM, Ruas, CV, Ribeiro-Alvares, JB, and Pinto, RS. Hamstring-to-quadriceps torque ratios of professional male soccer players: A systematic review. J Strength Cond Res 34(1): 281–293, 2020—The goal of this review was to determine the isokinetic hamstring-to-quadriceps (H/Q) torque ratios of professional male soccer players. Systematic searches were independently carried out by 2 researchers in 7 electronic databases. Only studies with teams from the first or second national leagues were included. From these studies, we extracted the players' H/Q conventional (concentric/concentric) and/or functional (eccentric/concentric) ratios. The initial search resulted in 2,128 articles that were filtered to 30 articles (1,727 players) meeting the inclusion criteria. The H/Q conventional ratio was assessed in 27 studies (1,274 players), whereas the H/Q functional ratio was assessed in 15 studies (1,082 players). The H/Q conventional ratio mean scores of professional male soccer players were close to 60% when tested at low to intermediate angular velocities (12°·s −1 = 52 ± 7% 30°·s −1 = 52 ± 8% 60°·s −1 = 65 ± 12% 90°·s −1 = 57 ± 6% 120°·s −1 = 65 ± 16% 180°·s −1 = 67 ± 17%) and around 70–80% at fast angular velocities (240°·s −1 = 80 ± 40% 300°·s −1 = 70 ± 15% 360°·s −1 = 80 ± 13%). The H/Q functional ratio mean scores of professional male soccer players were close to 80% at 60°·s −1 (79 ± 19%), around 100–130% at intermediate to fast angular velocities (120°·s −1 = 127 ± 42% 180°·s −1 = 96 ± 19% 240°·s −1 = 109 ± 22% 300°·s −1 = 123 ± 18%), and near or above 130% when angular testing velocities were mixed (eccentric hamstring concentric quadriceps 30/240°·s −1 = 132 ± 26% 60/180°·s −1 = 129 ± 20% 60/240°·s −1 = 153 ± 30%). In conclusion, considering the tested isokinetic angular velocity, professional male soccer players do not meet the traditional reference landmarks used to assess the strength balance between quadriceps and hamstring muscles (i.e., 60 and 100% for H/Q conventional and functional ratios, respectively), which supports a need for specific reference values according to the angular velocity selected for testing H/Q torque ratios.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2021
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 04-08-2017
DOI: 10.3390/JFMK2030029
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 05-2015
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 24-08-2020
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 10-2022
DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002959
Abstract: Eccentric contractions induce muscle damage, but less is known about the effects of preceding concentric contractions to eccentric contractions on muscle damage. We compared eccentric-only (ECC) and coupled concentric and eccentric contractions (CON–ECC) of the knee extensors for parameters of neuromuscular fatigue and muscle damage. Twenty participants (age, 19–36 yr) were randomly placed into an ECC or a CON–ECC group ( n = 10 per group), without significant ( P 0.06) differences in baseline neuromuscular variables between groups. The ECC group performed six sets of eight ECC at 80% of ECC one-repetition maximum (1-RMecc), whereas the CON–ECC group performed six sets of eight alternating concentric (CON) and ECC (16 contractions per set) at 80% of CON 1-RM and 1-RMecc, respectively. Maximal voluntary isometric contraction force, rate of force development, resting twitch force, maximal M-wave (M MAX ), voluntary activation, motor evoked potentials, corticospinal silent period, short interval intracortical inhibition, and muscle soreness were measured before, immediately after, and 1–3 d after exercise. No significant ( P ≥ 0.09) differences between ECC and CON–ECC were observed for changes in any variables after exercise. However, maximal voluntary isometric contraction force decreased immediately after exercise (ECC: −20.7% ± 12.8%, CON–ECC: −23.6% ± 23.3%) and was still reduced 3 d after exercise (ECC: −13.6% ± 13.4%, CON–ECC: −3.3% ± 21.2%). Rate of force development at 0–30 ms reduced immediately after exercise (ECC: −38.3% ± 33.9%, CON–ECC: −30.7% ± 38.3%). Voluntary activation, resting twitch force, and motor evoked potential/M MAX decreased and corticospinal silent period increased after exercise (all P ≤ 0.03), but short interval intracortical inhibition and M MAX did not change. Muscle soreness developed ( P 0.001) similarly for both groups (peak, 38.5 ± 29.5 mm). CON–ECC did not exacerbate neuromuscular fatigue and muscle damage when compared with ECC, despite twice as many contractions performed. Thus, eccentric contractions ( n = 48 in both groups) seemed to mainly mediate the neuromuscular responses observed.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 15-09-2018
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 25-07-2020
DOI: 10.1111/EJN.14904
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 06-12-2018
DOI: 10.3390/JFMK3040063
Abstract: Background: The effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching on muscle imbalance are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to examine the acute effects of PNF stretching on knee extension and flexion peak torque (PT), as well as the conventional and functional hamstrings to quadriceps (H:Q) ratios. Methods: Fifteen men (age = 22 ± 1 years body mass = 76 ± 12 kg height = 176 ± 7 cm) and fifteen women (age = 22 ± 2 years body mass = 63 ± 8 kg height = 161 ± 5 cm) performed concentric quadriceps and hamstrings, and eccentric hamstrings muscle actions at different angular velocities (60, 180, and 300°·s−1 concentric 60 and 180°·s−1 eccentric) before and after a bout of PNF stretching, and a control condition. Results: Neither PNF or control conditions affected concentric PT or H:Q ratios (p 0.05), apart from knee extension at 60°·s−1 in men (p = 0.001). However, there was a reduction in hamstrings eccentric PT in both control and PNF conditions for men and women (p = 0.003). Conclusions: PNF stretching of the hamstrings may not adversely affect the H:Q ratios, and consequently not negatively affect injury risk associated with muscular strength imbalances.
Publisher: Authorea, Inc.
Date: 15-09-2023
Publisher: Authorea, Inc.
Date: 19-09-2023
Location: Brazil
No related grants have been discovered for Cassio V Ruas.