Force Irregularity Following Maximal Effort: The After-Peak Reduction. Issue 1 (August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Doucet, Barbara M.; Mettler, Joni A.; Griffin, Lisa; Spirduso, Waneen
• Is Part Of: Perceptual and motor skills. Volume 123:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 244
• Page End: 257
• Publication Date: 2016-08
• Subjects: force variability -- motor control -- force output -- fine motor coordination -- gross motor coordination; Perception -- Periodicals; Motor ability -- Periodicals; Motor Skills; Perception; Psychology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 152
• DOI: 10.1177/0031512516661274
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0031-5125

Abstract

Irregularities in force output are present throughout human movement and can impair task performance. We investigated the presence of a large force discontinuity (after-peak reduction, APR) that appeared immediately following peak in maximal effort ramp contractions performed with the thumb adductor and ankle dorsiflexor muscles in 25 young adult participants (76% males, 24% females; M age 24.4 years, SD = 7.1). The after-peak reduction displayed similar parameters in both muscle groups with comparable drops in force during the after-peak reduction minima (thumb adductor: 27.5 ± 7.5% maximal voluntary contraction; ankle dorsiflexor: 25.8 ± 6.2% maximal voluntary contraction). A trend for the presence of fewer after-peak reductions with successive ramp trials was observed, suggesting a learning effect. Further investigation should explore underlying neural mechanisms contributing to the after-peak reduction.