Nicol C, Komi PV, Marconnet P. Fatigue effects of marathon running on neuromuscular performance. ... more Nicol C, Komi PV, Marconnet P. Fatigue effects of marathon running on neuromuscular performance. I. Changes in muscle force and stiffness characteristics. Scand J Med Sci Sports 1991: 1: 10-17. Nine experienced endurance runners performed individual marathon runs that involved several tests of neuromuscular performance before, during and after the marathon. The tests were performed with special force platform and dynamometer techniques. The results showed an overall decrease in performance from the marathon. The maximal sprint velocity decreased parabolically during the marathon, reaching the final value of 84% of the pre-marathon one. Similarly, the other test results after marathon indicated that maximal isometric knee extension torque was 78%, the performance in a special rebound test (drop jump) 84% and the 5-jump performance 92% of the pre-marathon values. These reductions were accompanied by alteration in the ground reaction force curves in the sprint and jump tests, suggestin...
After limb amputation, patients often wake up with a vivid perception of the presence of the miss... more After limb amputation, patients often wake up with a vivid perception of the presence of the missing limb, called "phantom limb". Phantom limbs have mostly been studied with respect to pain sensation. But patients can experience many other phantom sensations, including voluntary movements. The goal of the present study was to quantify phantom movement kinematics and relate these to intact limb kinematics and to the time elapsed since amputation. Six upper arm and two forearm amputees with various delays since amputation (6months to 32years) performed phantom finger, hand and wrist movements at self-chosen comfortable velocities. The kinematics of the phantom movements was indirectly obtained via the intact limb that synchronously mimicked the phantom limb movements, using a Cyberglove® for measuring finger movements and an inertial measurement unit for wrist movements. Results show that the execution of phantom movements is perceived as "natural" but effortful. T...
International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance
Objectives: To identify relevant physiological, mechanical, and strength indices to improve the e... more Objectives: To identify relevant physiological, mechanical, and strength indices to improve the evaluation of elite mountain bike riders competing in the current Cross-Country Olympic (XCO) format. Methods: Considering the evolution of the XCO race format over the last decade, the present testing protocol adopted a battery of complementary laboratory cycling tests: a maximal aerobic consumption, a force–velocity test, and a multi-short-sprint test. A group of 33 elite-level XCO riders completed the entire testing protocol and at least 5 international competitions. Results: Very large correlations were found between the XCO performance and maximal aerobic power output (r = .78; P < .05), power at the second ventilation threshold (r = .83; P < .05), maximal pedaling force (r = .77; P < .05), and maximum power in the sixth sprint (r = .87; P < .05) of the multi-short-sprint test. A multiple regression model revealed that the normalized XCO performance was predicted at 89.2%...
Introduction L’intervention en activite physique (AP) peut aider les adolescents obeses a sortir ... more Introduction L’intervention en activite physique (AP) peut aider les adolescents obeses a sortir du cercle vicieux d’un desengagement de la pratique physique [1] . L’objectif de cette etude etait de mesurer les effets psychophysiologiques d’exercices courts et intenses associes a une diete. Materiels et methodes Les effets (i) differes et (ii) immediats d’un programme sur cinq semaines de trois exercices intermittents hebdomadaires randomises de meme intensite vigoureuse (EIV) controlee (> 80 % FCmax, > 6 Kcal/min) de contextes (basketball, bike’n run, boxe pieds-poings) et de durees nettes differentes (respectivement 30, 12 et 8 min) ont ete etudies. La composition corporelle (taille, poids, % masse grasse) et les conditions physiques objectives (distance et travail au test de marche de 6 minutes [2] , frequence cardiaque, lactatemie) et percues (soi physique percu) [3] ont ete mesures aupres de 24 garcons et filles obeses (14–15 ans ; IMC = 32,64 ± 4,88 kg.m−2). Une Anova a ...
studies dealing with body unweighing have focused on the walking pattern and showed reduced verti... more studies dealing with body unweighing have focused on the walking pattern and showed reduced vertical ground reaction forces and longer contact time [1,2]. Little is known about the unweighing influence on the running pattern but decreases in loading rate, impact peak force and active peak force have been reported [3].
This study examined the combined effect of exercise induced hyperthermia and dehydration on neuro... more This study examined the combined effect of exercise induced hyperthermia and dehydration on neuromuscular function in human subjects. Six trained male runners ran for 40 min on a treadmill at 65% of their maximal aerobic velocity while wearing a tracksuit covered with an impermeable jacket and pants to impair the evaporation of sweat. These stressful experimental running conditions led the runners to a physiological status close to exhaustion. On average, the 40 min run ended at a heart rate of 196 (SD 8) beats.min-1, a tympanic temperature of 40 (SD 0.3) degrees C and with a loss of body mass of 2 (SD 0.5)%. Pre- and post-running strength tests included measurements of maximal knee extension and flexion torques in both isometric and isokinetic (at 60 and 240 degrees.s-1) conditions. A 20 s endurance test at 240 degrees.s-1 was also performed. Surface electromyographic (EMG) activity was recorded from six knee extensor and flexor muscles during the entire protocol. The treadmill run led to clear decrements in maximal extension torque and EMG activity both in isometric and at the slowest isokinetic velocity (60 degrees.s-1). However, no differences in these parameters were observed at 240 degrees.s-1. Furthermore, the EMG patterns of the major knee extensor and flexor muscles remained remarkably stable during the treadmill run. These results demonstrate that the exercise-induced hyperthermia and dehydration in the present experiments had only minor effects on the neuromuscular performance. However, it is also suggested that high internal body temperature per se could limit the production of high force levels.
Nicol C, Komi PV, Marconnet P. Fatigue effects of marathon running on neuromuscular performance. ... more Nicol C, Komi PV, Marconnet P. Fatigue effects of marathon running on neuromuscular performance. I. Changes in muscle force and stiffness characteristics. Scand J Med Sci Sports 1991: 1: 10-17. Nine experienced endurance runners performed individual marathon runs that involved several tests of neuromuscular performance before, during and after the marathon. The tests were performed with special force platform and dynamometer techniques. The results showed an overall decrease in performance from the marathon. The maximal sprint velocity decreased parabolically during the marathon, reaching the final value of 84% of the pre-marathon one. Similarly, the other test results after marathon indicated that maximal isometric knee extension torque was 78%, the performance in a special rebound test (drop jump) 84% and the 5-jump performance 92% of the pre-marathon values. These reductions were accompanied by alteration in the ground reaction force curves in the sprint and jump tests, suggestin...
After limb amputation, patients often wake up with a vivid perception of the presence of the miss... more After limb amputation, patients often wake up with a vivid perception of the presence of the missing limb, called "phantom limb". Phantom limbs have mostly been studied with respect to pain sensation. But patients can experience many other phantom sensations, including voluntary movements. The goal of the present study was to quantify phantom movement kinematics and relate these to intact limb kinematics and to the time elapsed since amputation. Six upper arm and two forearm amputees with various delays since amputation (6months to 32years) performed phantom finger, hand and wrist movements at self-chosen comfortable velocities. The kinematics of the phantom movements was indirectly obtained via the intact limb that synchronously mimicked the phantom limb movements, using a Cyberglove® for measuring finger movements and an inertial measurement unit for wrist movements. Results show that the execution of phantom movements is perceived as "natural" but effortful. T...
International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance
Objectives: To identify relevant physiological, mechanical, and strength indices to improve the e... more Objectives: To identify relevant physiological, mechanical, and strength indices to improve the evaluation of elite mountain bike riders competing in the current Cross-Country Olympic (XCO) format. Methods: Considering the evolution of the XCO race format over the last decade, the present testing protocol adopted a battery of complementary laboratory cycling tests: a maximal aerobic consumption, a force–velocity test, and a multi-short-sprint test. A group of 33 elite-level XCO riders completed the entire testing protocol and at least 5 international competitions. Results: Very large correlations were found between the XCO performance and maximal aerobic power output (r = .78; P < .05), power at the second ventilation threshold (r = .83; P < .05), maximal pedaling force (r = .77; P < .05), and maximum power in the sixth sprint (r = .87; P < .05) of the multi-short-sprint test. A multiple regression model revealed that the normalized XCO performance was predicted at 89.2%...
Introduction L’intervention en activite physique (AP) peut aider les adolescents obeses a sortir ... more Introduction L’intervention en activite physique (AP) peut aider les adolescents obeses a sortir du cercle vicieux d’un desengagement de la pratique physique [1] . L’objectif de cette etude etait de mesurer les effets psychophysiologiques d’exercices courts et intenses associes a une diete. Materiels et methodes Les effets (i) differes et (ii) immediats d’un programme sur cinq semaines de trois exercices intermittents hebdomadaires randomises de meme intensite vigoureuse (EIV) controlee (> 80 % FCmax, > 6 Kcal/min) de contextes (basketball, bike’n run, boxe pieds-poings) et de durees nettes differentes (respectivement 30, 12 et 8 min) ont ete etudies. La composition corporelle (taille, poids, % masse grasse) et les conditions physiques objectives (distance et travail au test de marche de 6 minutes [2] , frequence cardiaque, lactatemie) et percues (soi physique percu) [3] ont ete mesures aupres de 24 garcons et filles obeses (14–15 ans ; IMC = 32,64 ± 4,88 kg.m−2). Une Anova a ...
studies dealing with body unweighing have focused on the walking pattern and showed reduced verti... more studies dealing with body unweighing have focused on the walking pattern and showed reduced vertical ground reaction forces and longer contact time [1,2]. Little is known about the unweighing influence on the running pattern but decreases in loading rate, impact peak force and active peak force have been reported [3].
This study examined the combined effect of exercise induced hyperthermia and dehydration on neuro... more This study examined the combined effect of exercise induced hyperthermia and dehydration on neuromuscular function in human subjects. Six trained male runners ran for 40 min on a treadmill at 65% of their maximal aerobic velocity while wearing a tracksuit covered with an impermeable jacket and pants to impair the evaporation of sweat. These stressful experimental running conditions led the runners to a physiological status close to exhaustion. On average, the 40 min run ended at a heart rate of 196 (SD 8) beats.min-1, a tympanic temperature of 40 (SD 0.3) degrees C and with a loss of body mass of 2 (SD 0.5)%. Pre- and post-running strength tests included measurements of maximal knee extension and flexion torques in both isometric and isokinetic (at 60 and 240 degrees.s-1) conditions. A 20 s endurance test at 240 degrees.s-1 was also performed. Surface electromyographic (EMG) activity was recorded from six knee extensor and flexor muscles during the entire protocol. The treadmill run led to clear decrements in maximal extension torque and EMG activity both in isometric and at the slowest isokinetic velocity (60 degrees.s-1). However, no differences in these parameters were observed at 240 degrees.s-1. Furthermore, the EMG patterns of the major knee extensor and flexor muscles remained remarkably stable during the treadmill run. These results demonstrate that the exercise-induced hyperthermia and dehydration in the present experiments had only minor effects on the neuromuscular performance. However, it is also suggested that high internal body temperature per se could limit the production of high force levels.
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Papers by Caroline Nicol