Neuromuscular characteristics during weight loss in a professional boxer: a case study

It is important to understand the effects of rapid changes in weight on neuromuscular functions of combat athletes. The purpose of this case study was to investigate time-course changes in muscle strength, muscle size, and neural input during rapid weight loss in a professional boxer. One professional male boxer (26 yr) participated in two matches during measurements: welterweight (66.6 kg; weight loss: WL) and super welterweight (69.85 kg; control: CON). His muscle contraction properties and body composition were measured from 6 wk (baseline) before the matches to 1 wk after them. Maximal voluntary isometric knee extension torque, muscle cross-sectional area (mCSA) of the vastus lateralis using ultrasound, and high-density surface electromyography of the vastus lateralis during submaximal ramp-up contraction were measured. Individual motor units were identified, and modified discharge rates were calculated from a regression line between the recruitment threshold and discharge rates at 60%–70% of maximum torque according to the baseline value. His body weights for WL and CON decreased from 70.80 and 71.42 kg at the baseline to 68.75 and 71.36 kg immediately before the matches, respectively. Muscle strength changed little for either match. For WL, skeletal muscle mass and mCSA decreased, but there was no decrease for CON. The modified motor unit discharge rate for WL increased immediately before the match compared with other periods but did not change for CON. After rapid weight loss, neural input increased to compensate for lost muscle mass, and muscle strength was maintained. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This case study found that neural input to muscle, which was evaluated by high-density surface electrocardiography, increased to compensate for the decline of body weight and muscle mass and to maintain muscle strength during rapid weight loss, while neuromuscular characteristics were not markedly changed during no significant weight loss.