{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]],"date-time":"2026-09-25T00:47:29Z","timestamp":1790297249582,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":40,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,5,6]],"date-time":"2021-05-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1620259200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS ONE"],"abstract":"<jats:p>In sports and movement sciences isometric muscle function is usually measured by pushing against a stable resistance. However, subjectively one can hold or push isometrically. Several investigations suggest a distinction of those forms. The aim of this study was to investigate whether these two forms of isometric muscle action can be distinguished by objective parameters in an interpersonal setting. 20 subjects were grouped in 10 same sex pairs, in which one partner should perform the pushing isometric muscle action (PIMA) and the other partner executed the holding isometric muscle action (HIMA). The partners had contact at the distal forearms via an interface, which included a strain gauge and an acceleration sensor. The mechanical oscillations of the triceps brachii (MMGtri) muscle, its tendon (MTGtri) and the abdominal muscle (MMGobl) were recorded by a piezoelectric-sensor-based measurement system. Each partner performed three 15s (80% MVIC) and two fatiguing trials (90% MVIC) during PIMA and HIMA, respectively. Parameters to compare PIMA and HIMA were the mean frequency, the normalized mean amplitude, the amplitude variation, the power in the frequency range of 8 to 15 Hz, a special power-frequency ratio and the number of task failures during HIMA or PIMA (partner who quit the task). A \u201cHIMA failure\u201d occurred in 85% of trials (<jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic> &lt; 0.001). No significant differences between PIMA and HIMA were found for the mean frequency and normalized amplitude. The MMGobl showed significantly higher values of amplitude variation (15s: <jats:italic>p =<\/jats:italic> 0.013; fatiguing: <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic> = 0.007) and of power-frequency-ratio (15s: <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic> = 0.040; fatiguing: <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic> = 0.002) during HIMA and a higher power in the range of 8 to 15 Hz during PIMA (15s: <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic> = 0.001; fatiguing: <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic> = 0.011). MMGtri and MTGtri showed no significant differences. Based on the findings it is suggested that a holding and a pushing isometric muscle action can be distinguished objectively, whereby a more complex neural control is assumed for HIMA.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0238331","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,5,6]],"date-time":"2021-05-06T18:26:18Z","timestamp":1620325578000},"page":"e0238331","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":18,"title":["Paired personal interaction reveals objective differences between pushing and holding isometric muscle action"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6289-6987","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"Laura V.","family":"Schaefer","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Frank N.","family":"Bittmann","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,5,6]]},"reference":[{"key":"pone.0238331.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"11","DOI":"10.1186\/s13102-017-0075-z","article-title":"Are there two forms of isometric muscle action? Results of the experimental study support a distinction between a holding and a pushing isometric muscle function","volume":"9","author":"L Schaefer","year":"2017","journal-title":"BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0238331.ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"466","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jelekin.2006.11.006","article-title":"Comparison of electromyographic activity during eccentrically versus concentrically loaded isometric contractions","volume":"18","author":"JC Garner","year":"2008","journal-title":"Journal of Electromyography and Kinesiology"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0238331.ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"681","DOI":"10.1113\/jphysiol.2002.026948","article-title":"Motor unit synchronization is enhanced during slow lengthening contractions of a hand muscle","volume":"545","author":"JG Semmler","year":"2002","journal-title":"Journal of Physiology"},{"key":"pone.0238331.ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1000","DOI":"10.1152\/japplphysiol.00564.2006","article-title":"Accessory muscle activity contributes to the variation in time to task failure for different arm postures and loads","volume":"102","author":"T Rudroff","year":"2007","journal-title":"J Appl Physiol"},{"key":"pone.0238331.ref005","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"125","DOI":"10.1152\/japplphysiol.00605.2010","article-title":"Muscle activity and time to task failure differ with load compliance and target force for elbow flexor muscles","volume":"110","author":"T Rudroff","year":"2011","journal-title":"J Appl Physiol"},{"key":"pone.0238331.ref006","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1211","DOI":"10.1152\/japplphysiol.01439.2012","article-title":"PET\/CT imaging of age- and task-associated differences in muscle activity during fatiguing contractions","volume":"114","author":"T Rudroff","year":"2013","journal-title":"J Appl Physiol"},{"key":"pone.0238331.ref007","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3087","DOI":"10.1152\/jn.00232.2002","article-title":"Task Differences with the Same Load Torque Alter the Endurance","volume":"88","author":"SK Hunter","year":"2002","journal-title":"J Neurophysiol"},{"key":"pone.0238331.ref008","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1168","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-020-57766-5","article-title":"Parkinson patients without tremor show changed patterns of mechanical muscle oscillations during a specific bilateral motor task compared to controls","volume":"10","author":"L Schaefer","year":"2020","journal-title":"Scientific Reports."},{"key":"pone.0238331.ref009","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"15456","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-018-33579-5","article-title":"Coherent behavior of neuromuscular oscillations between isometrically interacting subjects: experimental study utilizing wavelet coherence analysis of mechanomyographic and mechanotendographic signals","volume":"8","author":"L Schaefer","year":"2018","journal-title":"Scientific Reports"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0238331.ref010","first-page":"195","article-title":"Synchronization of muscular oscillations between two subjects during isometric interaction","volume":"24","author":"L Schaefer","year":"2014","journal-title":"Eur J Trans Myol\u2014Basic Appl Myol"},{"key":"pone.0238331.ref011","article-title":"Applications of Mechanomyography for Examining Muscle Function.","author":"T Beck","year":"2010","journal-title":"Editor Travis. W. Beck"},{"key":"pone.0238331.ref012","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1545","DOI":"10.1093\/brain\/123.8.1545","article-title":"Physiological and pathological tremors and rhythmic central motor control","volume":"123","author":"JH McAuley","journal-title":"Brain"},{"key":"pone.0238331.ref013","volume-title":"Synchronization. A universal concept in nonlinear sciences.","author":"A Pikovsky","year":"2003"},{"key":"pone.0238331.ref014","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"35","DOI":"10.1007\/s00221-009-1883-5","article-title":"Removal of visual feedback alters muscle activity and reduces force variability during constant isometric contractions","volume":"197","author":"HS Baweja","year":"2009","journal-title":"Exp Brain Res"},{"key":"pone.0238331.ref015","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"148","DOI":"10.1016\/j.physbeh.2017.06.004","article-title":"Muscle activation during resistance training with no external load\u2014effects of training status, movement velocity, dominance, and visual feedback","volume":"179","author":"P Gentil","year":"2017","journal-title":"Physiology & Behavior"},{"key":"pone.0238331.ref016","first-page":"T4","article-title":"Multiples Testen","volume":"127","author":"R Bender","year":"2002","journal-title":"Dtsch Med Wochenschr"},{"key":"pone.0238331.ref017","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"527","DOI":"10.1016\/S0197-2456(00)00106-9","article-title":"Practical guidelines for multiplicity adjustment in clinical trials","volume":"21","author":"MA Proschan","year":"2000","journal-title":"Control Clin Trials"},{"key":"pone.0238331.ref018","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"787","DOI":"10.2307\/2531110","article-title":"The appropriateness of analysis of variance and multiple comparison procedures","volume":"39","author":"PC O\u2019Brien","year":"1983","journal-title":"Biometrics"},{"key":"pone.0238331.ref019","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"43","DOI":"10.1097\/00001648-199001000-00010","article-title":"No adjustments are needed for multiple comparisons","volume":"1","author":"KJ Rothman","year":"1990","journal-title":"Epidemiology"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0238331.ref020","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"79","DOI":"10.4081\/ejtm.2019.8800","article-title":"Behavior of oxygen saturation and blood filling in the venous capillary system of the biceps brachii muscle during a fatiguing isometric action","volume":"30","author":"S Dech","year":"2020","journal-title":"Eur J Transl Myol"},{"issue":"8","key":"pone.0238331.ref021","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"918","DOI":"10.1113\/expphysiol.2011.064303","article-title":"Influence of neural adjustments and muscle oxygenation on task failure during sustained isometric contractions with elbow flexor muscles","volume":"97","author":"C Boogs","year":"2012","journal-title":"Exp Physiol"},{"key":"pone.0238331.ref022","first-page":"479","author":"H-J Pfl\u00fcger","year":"2013"},{"key":"pone.0238331.ref023","author":"S Huggenberger","year":"2019","edition":"2"},{"issue":"2","key":"pone.0238331.ref024","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"387","DOI":"10.1113\/jphysiol.2006.120121","article-title":"Computational principles of sensorimotor control that minimize uncertainty and variability","volume":"578","author":"PM Bays","year":"2007","journal-title":"J Physiol"},{"issue":"9","key":"pone.0238331.ref025","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"907","DOI":"10.1038\/nn1309","article-title":"Optimality principles in sensorimotor control","volume":"7","author":"E Todorov","year":"2004","journal-title":"Nature Neuroscience"},{"issue":"24","key":"pone.0238331.ref026","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"5853","DOI":"10.1113\/jphysiol.2008.160747","article-title":"Neural control of shortening and lengthening contractions: influence of task constraints","volume":"586","author":"J Duchateau","year":"2008","journal-title":"J Physiol"},{"key":"pone.0238331.ref027","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1418","DOI":"10.1152\/japplphysiol.00002.2013","article-title":"Insights into the neural control of eccentric contractions","volume":"116","author":"J Duchateau","year":"2014","journal-title":"J Appl Physiol"},{"key":"pone.0238331.ref028","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"197","DOI":"10.1242\/jeb.123158","article-title":"Neural control of lengthening contractions","volume":"219","author":"J Duchateau","year":"2016","journal-title":"Journal of Experimental Biology"},{"key":"pone.0238331.ref029","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2339","DOI":"10.1152\/jappl.1996.81.6.2339","article-title":"Eccentric contractions require unique activation strategies by the nervous system","volume":"81","author":"RM Enoka","year":"1996","journal-title":"J Appl Physiol"},{"key":"pone.0238331.ref030","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1764","DOI":"10.1152\/jn.2001.86.4.1764","article-title":"Greater movement-related cortical potential during human eccentric versus concentric muscle contractions","volume":"86","author":"Y Fang","year":"2001","journal-title":"Journal of Neurophysiology"},{"key":"pone.0238331.ref031","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"214","DOI":"10.1113\/jphysiol.1954.sp005044","article-title":"The relation between force, velocity and integrated electrical activity in human muscles","volume":"123","author":"B Bigland","year":"1954","journal-title":"J Physiology London"},{"key":"pone.0238331.ref032","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"301","DOI":"10.1113\/jphysiol.1988.sp017291","article-title":"Double-hyperbolic force-velocity relation in frog muscle fibres","volume":"404","author":"KA Edman","year":"1988","journal-title":"J. Physiol"},{"key":"pone.0238331.ref033","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"503","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1469-7793.2000.t01-2-00503.x","article-title":"Tension changes in the cat soleus muscle following slow stretch or shortening of the contracting muscle","volume":"522","author":"DL Morgan","year":"2000","journal-title":"J. Physiol"},{"key":"pone.0238331.ref034","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"373","DOI":"10.1152\/japplphysiol.00060.2003","article-title":"Fluctuations in acceleration during voluntary contractions lead to greater impairment of movement accuracy in older adults","volume":"95","author":"EA Christou","year":"2003","journal-title":"Journal of Applied Physiology"},{"key":"pone.0238331.ref035","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"515","DOI":"10.1007\/s00421-006-0206-9","article-title":"Age-related fatigability of the ankle dorsiflexor muscles during concentric and eccentric contractions","volume":"100","author":"S Baudry","year":"2007","journal-title":"European Journal of Applied Physiology"},{"key":"pone.0238331.ref036","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1407","DOI":"10.1152\/japplphysiol.00069.2013","article-title":"Mechanisms of enhanced force production in lengthening (eccentric) muscle contractions","volume":"116","author":"W Herzog","year":"2014","journal-title":"J Appl Physiol"},{"key":"pone.0238331.ref037","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"299","DOI":"10.3389\/fphys.2017.00299","article-title":"Estimating neural control from concentric vs. eccentric surface electromyographic representations during fatiguing, cyclic submaximal back extension exercises","volume":"8","author":"GR Ebenbichler","year":"2017","journal-title":"Frontiers in Physiology"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0238331.ref038","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"183","DOI":"10.4081\/ejtm.2015.5183","article-title":"Report on Adaptive Force, a specific neuromuscular function","volume":"25","author":"M Hoff","year":"2015","journal-title":"Eur J Transl Myol\u2014Basic Appl Myol"},{"issue":"3","key":"pone.0238331.ref039","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"152","DOI":"10.4081\/ejtm.2017.6479","article-title":"Measuring system and method of determining the Adaptive Force","volume":"27","author":"L Schaefer","year":"2017","journal-title":"Eur J Transl Myol"},{"issue":"10","key":"pone.0238331.ref040","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2846","DOI":"10.1519\/JSC.0000000000003291","article-title":"Scientific Basis for Eccentric Quasi-Isometric Resistance Training: A Narrative Review.","volume":"33","author":"DJ Oranchuk","year":"2019","journal-title":"Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research"}],"container-title":["PLOS ONE"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0238331","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2021,5,6]],"date-time":"2021-05-06T18:27:17Z","timestamp":1620325637000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/dx.plos.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0238331"}},"subtitle":[],"editor":[{"given":"Dalton M\u00fcller","family":"Pess\u00f4a Filho","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"editor"}]}],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2021,5,6]]},"references-count":40,"journal-issue":{"issue":"5","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,5,6]]}},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0238331","relation":{},"ISSN":["1932-6203"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1932-6203","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2021,5,6]]}}}