Child-Adult differences in antagonist muscle coactivation: A systematic review

Antagonist coactivation is the simultaneous activation of agonist and antagonist muscles during a motor task. Age-related changes in coactivation may contribute to observed differences in muscle performance between children and adults. Our aim was to systematically summarize age-related differences in antagonist muscle coactivation during multi-joint dynamic and single-joint isometric and isokinetic contractions. Electronic data-bases were searched for peer-reviewed studies comparing coactivation in upper or lower extremity muscles between healthy children and adolescents/young adults. Of the 1083 studies initially identified, 25 met eligi-bility criteria. Thirteen studies examined multi-joint dynamic movements, 10 single-joint isometric contractions, and 2 single-joint isokinetic contractions. Of the studies investigating multi-joint dynamic contractions, 83% (11/ 13 studies) reported at least one significant age-related difference: In 84% (9/11 studies) coactivation was higher in children, whereas 16% (2/11 studies) reported higher coactivation in adults. Among single-joint contractions, only 25% (3/12 studies) reported significantly higher coactivation in children. Fifty six percent of studies examined females, with no clear sex-related differences. Child-adult differences in coactivation appear to be more prevalent during multi-joint dynamic contractions, where generally, coactivation is higher in children. When examining child-adult differences in muscle function, it is important to consider potential age-related differences in coactivation, specifically during multi-joint dynamic contractions.

Automated summary

Antagonist coactivation refers to the simultaneous activation of agonist and antagonist muscles during a motor task, and age-related differences in coactivation may contribute to muscle performance variations between children and adults. This study summarized the existing research on age-related differences in antagonist muscle coactivation during multi-joint dynamic and single-joint isometric or isokinetic contractions. The majority of studies found higher coactivation in children during multi-joint dynamic contractions, while only a few studies reported higher coactivation in children during single-joint contractions. These findings highlight the importance of considering age-related differences in coactivation, particularly during multi-joint dynamic contractions, when evaluating muscle function in children and adults.