Functional relevance of resistance training-induced neuroplasticity in health and disease.

Tibor Hortobágyi, Urs Granacher, Miguel Fernandez-Del-Olmo, Glyn Howatson, Andrea Manca, Franca Deriu, Wolfgang Taube, Markus Gruber, Gonzalo Márquez, Jesper Lundbye-Jensen, David Colomer-Poveda

Journal: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews 2021;122():79-91

PMID: 33383071

Abstract

Repetitive, monotonic, and effortful voluntary muscle contractions performed for just a few weeks, i.e., resistance training, can substantially increase maximal voluntary force in the practiced task and can also increase gross motor performance. The increase in motor performance is often accompanied by neuroplastic adaptations in the central nervous system. While historical data assigned functional relevance to such adaptations induced by resistance training, this claim has not yet been systematically and critically examined in the context of motor performance across the lifespan in health and disease. A review of muscle activation, brain and peripheral nerve stimulation, and imaging data revealed that increases in motor performance and neuroplasticity tend to be uncoupled, making a mechanistic link between neuroplasticity and motor performance inconclusive. We recommend new approaches, including causal mediation analytical and hypothesis-driven models to substantiate the functional relevance of resistance training-induced neuroplasticity in the improvements of gross motor function across the lifespan in health and disease.

Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Address: Center for Human Movement Sciences, University of Groningen, University Medical CenterGroningen, Groningen, Netherlands. Electronic address: [email protected].; Division of Training and Movement Sciences, Research Focus Cognition Sciences, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany.; Area of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Sports Sciences and Physical Education, Center for Sport Studies, King Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain.; Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Northumbria University, Newcastle, UK; Water Research Group, North West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy.; Department of Neurosciences and Movement Sciences, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.; Human Performance Research Centre, Department of Sport Science, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.; Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sports Sciences and Physical Education, University of A Coruña, A Coruña, Spain.; Movement & Neuroscience, Department of Nutrition, Exercise & Sports Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagenk, Faculty of Health Science, Universidad Isabel I, Burgos, Spain.; Faculty of Health Science, Universidad Isabel I, Burgos, Spain.
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