Jc. Agre et al., LOW-INTENSITY, ALTERNATE-DAY EXERCISE IMPROVES MUSCLE PERFORMANCE WITHOUT APPARENT ADVERSE AFFECT IN POSTPOLIO PATIENTS, American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation, 75(1), 1996, pp. 50-58
The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a low-intensity
, alternate-day, 12-wk quadriceps muscle-strengthening exercise progra
m on muscle strength and muscle and motor unit integrity in 12 postpol
io patients. Patients performed six to ten repetitions of a 5-s durati
on knee extension exercise with ankle weights. After completing six re
petitions, patients rated the perceived exertion (RPE) in the exercise
d muscle. The patient continued repetitions until RPE was greater than
or equal to 17 or ten repetitions were performed. The weight was incr
eased the next exercise day whenever the RPE was < 17 after ten repeti
tions. Before and after the training program, median macroamplitude as
well as jitter and blocking were determined electromyographically (EM
C), serum creatine kinase (CK) was measured, and quadriceps muscle str
ength was assessed. The ankle weight lifted after 2 wk of training and
at the end of the program were also recorded. Although the ankle weig
ht lifted at the end of the program significantly (P < 0.05) increased
from a mean +/- SD of 7.1 +/- 2.7 to 11.2 +/- 4.7 kg, the dynametrica
lly determined muscle strength measures did not significantly (P > 0.0
5) increase. The EMC and the serum CK variables also did not significa
ntly (P > 0.05) change as a result of the exercise program. We conclud
e that performance was improved, as demonstrated by an increase in the
amount of weight the patients lifted in the exercise program. No evid
ence was found to show that this program adversely affected the motor
units or the muscle as the EMG and CK did not change.