Stretch-shorten cycle compared with isometric preload: contributions to enhanced muscular performance

Abstract

Walshe, Andrew D., Greg J. Wilson, and Gertjan J. C. Ettema.Stretch-shorten cycle compared with isometric preload: contributions to enhanced muscular performance. J. Appl. Physiol. 84(1): 97–106, 1998.—To isolate any difference muscular contraction history may have on concentric work output, 40 trained male subjects performed three separate isokinetic concentric squats that involved differing contraction histories: 1) a concentric-only (CO) squat, 2) a concentric squat preceded by an isometric preload (IS), and 3) a stretch-shorten cycle (SSC) squat. Over the first 300 ms of the concentric movement, work output for both the SSC and IS conditions was significantly greater (154.8 ± 39.8 and 147.9 ± 34.7 J, respectively; P < 0.001) compared with the CO squat (129.7 ± 34.4 J). In addition, work output after the SSC test over the first 300 ms was also significantly larger than that for the corresponding period after the IS protocol ( P < 0.05). There was no difference in normalized, integrated electromyogram among any of the conditions. It was concluded that concentric performance enhancement derived from a preceding stretch of the muscle-tendon complex was largely due to the attainment of a higher active muscle state before the start of the concentric movement. However, it was also hypothesized that contractile element potentiation was a significant contributor to stretch-induced muscular performance under these conditions.