Muscle-specific reticulospinal contributions to limb-trunk coordination during standing arm curls in strength-trained and untrained individuals

Limb-trunk coordination plays an essential role in daily actions. The reticulospinal excitability of limb muscles has been suggested to be modulated by long-term motor experience, such as strength training. However, it remains unclear whether reticulospinal contributions in the limb and trunk muscles during limb-trunk coordinated movements are modulated by strength training. This study aimed to determine whether reticulospinal contributions to limb-trunk coordination differ between strength-trained and untrained individuals. Fifteen long-term ([≥]3 yrs) strength-trained and 15 untrained healthy men participated in this study. Participants performed a rapid bilateral arm-curl task while standing, using a load corresponding to 35% of their one-repetition maximum, in response to visual, visual-auditory (80 dB), or visual-startling (115 dB) stimuli. Electromyography (EMG) was recorded from the right biceps brachii (BB) and erector spinae (ES) muscles during the task. In the trained group, EMG onset of the ES was closer to that of the BB than in the untrained group, indicating tighter temporal coordination between the limb prime mover and trunk postural muscles in strength-trained individuals. In both groups, visual-startling stimuli shortened the EMG onset of both the BB and ES, suggesting reticulospinal contributions to both muscles. Notably, the reduction in EMG onset of the BB induced by the startling stimulus was smaller in the trained group than in the untrained group, whereas no difference between groups was observed for the ES. These findings suggest that long-term strength training may modify limb-trunk muscle coordination during standing arm curls and may be associated with muscle-specific adaptations in reticulospinal contributions.