Skip to search boxSkip to navigationSkip to main content

A noninvasive test for estimating myosin heavy chain of the vastus lateralis in females with mechanomyography

  • Stephanie A. Sontagd(Author)
    ,
  • Adam J. Sterczalab(Author)
    ,
  • Jonathan D. Millerf(Author)
    ,
  • ,
  • Alex A. Olmosd(Author)
    ,
  • Mandy E. Parrae(Author)
  • ,
  • bUniversity of Pittsburgh
    ,
  • cUniversity of Calgary
    ,
  • dOklahoma State University
    ,
  • eUniversity of Mary Hardin-Baylor
    ,
  • fUniversity of Kansas
Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Abstract

This study examined relationships between percent myosin heavy chain (%MHC) expression and mechanomyographic amplitude (MMGRMS). Fifteen females (age ± SD=21.3 ± 5.3 yrs) completed isometric trapezoidal contractions at 30% and 70% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). MMG was recorded from the vastus lateralis (VL). Participants gave a muscle biopsy of the VL post-testing. MMGRMS-torque relationships during the linearly varying segments were log-transformed and linear regressions were applied to calculate b terms (slopes). For the steady torque segment, MMGRMS was averaged. Correlations were performed for type I%MHC with the MMG variables. Multiple regression was utilized to examine prediction equations for type I%MHC. Type I%MHC was significantly correlated with the b terms during the increasing segment of the 70% MVC (p = 0.003; r = -0.718), and MMGRMS during steady torque at 30% (p = 0.008; r = -0.652) and 70% MVC (p = 0.040; r = -0.535). Type I%MHC reduced the linearity of the MMGRMS-torque relationship during the high-intensity linearly increasing segment, and MMGRMS at a low- and high-intensity steady torque. A combination of MMG variables estimated type I%MHC expression with 81.2% accuracy. MMG recorded during a low- and high-intensity isometric trapezoidal contraction may offer a simple, noninvasive test for estimating type I%MHC expression of the VL in sedentary females.