Medial gastrocnemius is a key muscle for involuntary alternate muscle activity of plantar flexor synergists

Redundant and/or complicated muscle activations between synergist muscles have been demonstrated during low-level sustained contractions. Identification of a key muscle for this phenomenon allows for the simplification of motor control during prolonged contraction. In this study, we have identified a key muscle for involuntary alternate muscle activity of plantar flexor muscles based on a physiological tremor sequence that was recorded over 120 min. Two epochs where the muscle activity of medial gastrocnemius abruptly increased with decrease in other synergists (case ON) and vise verse (case OFF) were analyzed. Our results indicated that involuntary alternate muscle activity was associated with changes in physiological tremor of ankle angular acceleration when the muscle activity of medial gastrocnemius decreased in case OFF. In particular, the activity of the medial gastrocnemius muscle, but not the activity of other synergists, was accompanied by physiological tremor, demonstrating that the medial gastrocnemius is a key muscle for involuntary alternate muscle activity in plantar flexor synergists. In addition, weaker correlations between muscle activities and physiological tremor were found in case ON than case OFF. We suggest that, if the central nervous system can employ this unique muscle strategy, redundant and/or complicated neuromuscular activities will be reduced because of the existence of the key muscle.