Int J Sports Med 2008; 29(3): 217-224
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-965125
Training & Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Diurnal Variation in Maximal and Submaximal Strength, Power and Neural Activation of Leg Extensors in Men: Multiple Sampling Across Two Consecutive Days

M. Sedliak1 , T. Finni1 , S. Cheng2 , T. Haikarainen1 , K. Häkkinen1
  • 1Department of Biology of Physical Activity, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
  • 2Department of Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision February 5, 2007

Publication Date:
05 July 2007 (online)

Abstract

This study aimed to compare day-to-day repeatability of diurnal variation in strength and power. Thirty-two men were measured at four time points (07 : 00 - 08 : 00, 12 : 00 - 13 : 00, 17 : 00 - 18 : 00, and 20 : 30 - 21 : 30 h) throughout two consecutive days (day 1 and day 2). Power during loaded squat jumps, torque and EMG during maximal (MVC) and submaximal (MVC40) voluntary isometric knee extension contractions were measured. The EMG/torque ratio during MVC and MVC40 was calculated to evaluate neuromuscular efficiency. A significant time-of-day effect with repeatable diurnal patterns was found in power. In MVC, a significant time-of-day effect was present on day 2, whereas day 1 showed a typical but nonsignificant diurnal pattern. EMG and antagonist co-activation during MVC remained statistically unaltered, whereas neuromuscular efficiency improved from day 1 to day 2. A similar trend was observed in MVC40 neuromuscular efficiency with significant time-of-day and day-to-day effects. Unaltered agonist and antagonist activity during MVC suggests that modification at the muscular level was the primary source for the diurnal variation in peak torque. A learning effect seemed to affect data in MVC40. In conclusion, the second consecutive test day showed typical diurnal variation in both maximum strength and power with no day-to-day effect of cumulative fatigue.

References

  • 1 Atkinson G. Analysis of repeated measurements in physical therapy research: multiple comparisons amongst level means and multi-factorial designs.  Phys Ther Sport. 2002;  3 191-203
  • 2 Bambaeichi E, Reilly T, Cable N T, Giacomoni M. The isolated and combined effects of menstrual cycle phase and time-of-day on muscle strength of eumenorrheic females.  Chronobiol Int. 2004;  21 645-660
  • 3 Callard D, Davenne D, Gauthier A, Lagarde D, Van Hoecke J. Circadian rhythms in human muscular efficiency: continuous physical exercise versus continuous rest. A crossover study.  Chronobiol Int. 2000;  17 693-704
  • 4 Castaingts V, Martin A, Van Hoecke J, Pérot C. Neuromuscular efficiency of the triceps surae in induced and voluntary contractions: morning and evening evaluation.  Chronobiol Int. 2004;  21 631-643
  • 5 Coldwells A, Atkinson G, Reilly T. Sources of variation in back and leg dynamometry.  Ergonomics. 1994;  37 79-86
  • 6 Czeisler C A, Dumont M, Duffy J F, Steinberg J D, Richardson G S, Brown E N, Sánchez R, Ríos C D, Ronda J M. Association of sleep-wake habits in older people with changes in output of circadian pacemaker.  Lancet. 1992;  340 933-936
  • 7 Dauchy R T, Blask D E, Sauer L A, Barinard G C, Krause J A. Dim light during darkness stimulates tumor progression fatty acid uptake and metabolism.  Cancer Lett. 1999;  144 131-136
  • 8 De Prins J, Hecquet B. Data processing in chronobiological studies. Touitou Y, Haus E Biologic Rhythms in Clinical and Laboratory Medicine. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York; Springer Verlag 1994: 90-113
  • 9 Deschenes M R, Kraemer W J, Bush J A, Doughty T A, Kim D, Mullen K M, Ramsey K. Biorhythmic influences on functional capacity of human muscle and physiological responses.  Med Sci Sport Exerc. 1998;  30 1399-1407
  • 10 Drust B, Waterhause J, Atkinson G, Edwards B, Reilly T. Circadian rhythms in sports performance - an update.  Chronobiol Int. 2005;  22 21-44
  • 11 Duffy J F, Dijk D, Klerman E B, Czeisler C A. Later endogenous circadian temperature nadir relative to an earlier wake time in older people.  Am J Physiol. 1998;  275 1478-1487
  • 12 Farina D, Merletti R, Enoka R. The extraction of neural strategies from the surface EMG.  J Appl Physiol. 2004;  96 1486-1495
  • 13 Folkard S, Monk T H, Lobban M C. Towards a predictive test of adjustment to shift work.  Ergonomics. 1979;  22 79-91
  • 14 Folkard S, Monk T H. Circadian rhythms in human memory.  Br J Psychol. 1980;  71 295-307
  • 15 Gauthier A, Davenne D, Martin A, Cometti G, Van Hoecke J. Diurnal rhythm of the muscular performance of elbow flexor during isometric contractions.  Chronobiol Int. 1996;  13 135-146
  • 16 Gauthier A, Davenne D, Gentil C, Van Hoecke J. Circadian rhythm in the torque developed by elbow flexors during isometric contraction. Effect of sampling schedules.  Chronobiol Int. 1997;  14 287-294
  • 17 Gauthier A, Davenne D, Martin A, Van Hoecke J. Time of day effects on isometric and isokinetic torque developed during elbow flexion in humans.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2001;  84 249-252
  • 18 Giacomoni M, Edwards B, Bambaeichi E. Gender differences in the circadian variations in muscle strength assessed with and without superimposed electrical twitches.  Ergonomics. 2005;  48 1473-1487
  • 19 Gleeson N P, Mercer T H. Reproducibility of isokinetic leg strength and endurance characteristics of adult men and women.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1992;  65 221-228
  • 20 Grabiner M D, Campbell K R, Hawthorne D L, Hawkins D A. Electromyographic study of the anterior cruciate ligament-hamstrings synergy during isometric knee extension.  J Orthop Res. 1989;  7 152-155
  • 21 Guette M, Gondin J, Martin A. Time-of-day effect on the torque and neuromuscular properties of dominant and non-dominant quadriceps femoris.  Chronobiol Int. 2005;  22 1-18
  • 22 Guette M, Gondin J, Martin A, Pérot C, Van Hoecke J. Plantar flexion torque as a function of time of day.  Int J Sports Med. 2005;  26 171-177
  • 23 Halberg F. Temporal coordination of physiologic function.  Cold Spr Harb Symp Quant Biol. 1960;  25 289-310
  • 24 Häkkinen K, Komi P V. Electromyographic changes during strength training and detraining.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1983;  15 455-460
  • 25 Hermens H J, Freriks B, Merletti R, Hägg G, Stegeman D F, Blok J, Rau G, Disselhorst-Klug C. SENIAM 8: European Recommendations for Surface ElectroMyoGraphy. Netherlands; Roessingh Research and Development 1999: 158
  • 26 Ilmarinen J, Ilmarinen R, Korhonen O, Nurminen M. Circadian variation of physiological functions related to physical work capacity.  Scand J Work Environ Health. 1980;  6 112-122
  • 27 Izquierdo M, Ibanez J, Gorostiaga E, Garrues M, Zúniga A, Antón A, Larrión J L, Häkkinen K. Maximal strength and power characteristics in isometric and dynamic actions of the upper and lower extremities in middle-aged and older men.  Acta Physiol Scand. 1999;  167 57-68
  • 28 Izquierdo M, Häkkinen K, Gonzales-Badillo J J, Ibanez J, Gorostiaga E. Effects of long-term training specificity on maximal strength and power of the upper and lower extremities in athletes from different sports.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2002;  87 264-271
  • 29 Keenan K G, Farina D, Maluf K S, Merletti R, Enoka R. Influence of amplitude cancellation on the simulated surface electromyogram.  J Appl Physiol. 2005;  98 120-131
  • 30 Kerkhof G A, Van Dongen H PA. Morning-type and evening-type individuals differ in the phase position of their endogenous circadian oscillator.  Neurosci Lett. 1996;  218 153-156
  • 31 Kline C E, Durstine J L, Davis J M, Moore T A, Devlin T M, Zielinski M R, Youngstedt S D. Circadian variation in swim performance.  J Appl Physiol. 2007;  102 641-649
  • 32 Lane J D, Phillips-Bute B G. Caffeine deprivation affects vigilance performance and mood.  Physiol Behav. 1998;  65 171-175
  • 33 Martin A, Carpentier A, Guissard N, Van Hoecke J, Duchateau J. Effect of time of day on force variation in a human muscle.  Muscle Nerve. 1999;  22 1380-1387
  • 34 National Nutrition Council .Finnish Nutrition Recommendations. Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Committee report 1998 (7). Helsinki; Oy Edita Ab 1999: 73
  • 35 Nicolas A, Gauthier A, Bessot N, Moussay S, Davenne D. Time-of-day effects on myoelectric and mechanical properties of muscle during maximal and prolonged isokinetic exercise.  Chronobiol Int. 2005;  22 997-1011
  • 36 Pilcher J J, Huffcutt A I. Effects of sleep deprivation on performance: a meta-analysis.  Sleep. 1996;  19 318-326
  • 37 Reilly T, Down A. Investigation of circadian rhythms in anaerobic power and capacity of the legs.  J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 1992;  32 346-347
  • 38 Souissi N, Gauthier A, Sesboue B, Larue J, Davenne D. Effects of regular training at the same time of day on diurnal fluctuations in muscular performance.  J Sports Sci. 2002;  11 929-937
  • 39 Tassi P, Muzet A. Sleep inertia.  Sleep Med Rev. 2000;  4 341-353
  • 40 Wyse J P, Mercer T H, Gleeson N P. Time-of-day dependence of isokinetic leg strength and associated interday variability.  Br J Sports Med. 1994;  28 167-170
  • 41 Youngstedt S D, O'Connor P J. The influence of air travel on athletic performance.  Sports Med. 1999;  28 197-207

MSc Milan Sedliak

Department of Biology of Physical Activity
University of Jyväskylä

P.O. Box 35

40014 Jyväskylä

Finland

Phone: + 35 81 42 60 20 58

Fax: + 35 81 42 60 20 11

Email: milan.sedliak@sport.jyu.fi