[Effect of support deprivation on the sequence of motor units recruiting].

Motor units (MUs) activity in the knee extensors were tested by sustention of a small isometric effort in the conditions of foot support deprivation by dry immersion with simultaneous mechanic stimulation of the foot support zones. Analysis of MUs inter-pulse intervals (IPI) histograms in the heads of two leg extensors (m. soleus and m. gastrocnemius lat.) demonstrated that the MUs recruiting order is much dependent on the support input activity. In immersion, rearrangement of the sequence of MUs recruiting during the isometric effort sustention test pointed to a lower involvement of small tonic MUs; large MUs with IPIs as long as 260 ms and high variability took the place of small tonic MUs with relatively short IPIs (100 ms) and weak variability. Daily support stimulation in the timeframe of immersion was favorable to maintaining the normal pattern of MUs recruitment.