Force and duration of muscle twitch contractions in humans at pressures up to 70 bar.

The contraction peak force (CPF) and contraction time (CT) of the soleus Hoffmann (H) reflex and motor (M) response muscle twitch were measured in three subjects during the 686-m seawater Atlantis III simulated dive at Duke University. The mean CPF of both H and M twitches was observed to be 40-60% larger during compression than in predive control studies (P less than 0.001 for M response). This effect was sustained during the first 300 m of decompression, while postdive values were normal. Rate of contraction, as measured by changes in CT, was slowed significantly but only during compression (by 23% in the H reflex at 66.4 bar, P less than 0.001). These marked effects in CPF and CT cannot be explained by the small increases observed in the muscle action potential latency and duration, or other neuronal mechanisms. It is concluded that the twitch contraction of skeletal muscle is significantly slowed and augmented at pressure due to changes in excitation-contraction coupling or in the contractile process itself. These findings may be of importance in interpreting the etiology of many neuromuscular signs of the high-pressure neurological syndrome.