Critical review of Henneman's Law
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Abstract
Henneman's Law (also known as "size principle") states that, considering that motor neuron's size determines its excitation threshold, during the application of a muscular force the smaller motor units are the first to be recruited, and if the effort is stronger, the other motor units are going to be recruited in a stereotyped way, according to their progressive size. However, during daily living or sport activities, this principle has a number of exemptions. The purpose of this review is to describe, according to the scientific evidence, the conditions under which this principle does not apply or is significantly affected.
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Parodi Feye, A. S. (2017). Critical review of Henneman’s Law. Educación Física Y Ciencia, 19(2), e032. https://doi.org/10.24215/23142561e032
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References
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Butler, J. (2007). Drive to the human respiratory muscles. Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology, 159 (2) 115-126.
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Delitto, A., & Snyder-Mackler, L. (1990). Two Theories of Muscle Strength Augmentation Using Percutaneous Electrical Stimulation . Physical Therapy , 70(3) 158-164.
Enoka, R., & Stuart, D. (1984). Henneman's Size Principle: Current Issues. Trends in Neuroscience , 7(7) 226-228.
Garnett, R., & Stephens, J. (1981). Changes in the recruitment threshold of motor units produced by cutaneous stimulation in man. . Journal of Physiology , 311(1) 463-473.
González Badillo, J., & Gorostiaga, E. (2002). Fundamentos del entrenamiento de la fuerza. Barcelona: INDE.
Gordon, T., Thomas, C., Munson, J., & Stein, R. (2004). The resilience of the size principle e in the organization of motor unit properties in normal and reinnervated adult skeletal muscles. Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology , 82 (8-9), 645-661.
Grimby, L., Hannerz, J., & Hedman, B. (1981). The fatige and voluntary discharge properties of single motor units in man. Journal of Physiology , 316(1), 545-554.
Henneman, E., Clamann, H. P., Gillies, J. D., & Skinner, R. (1974). Rank order of motoneurons within a pool: law of combination. Journal of Neurophysiology , 37(6), 1338-1349.
Kandel, E., Schwartz, J., Jessell, T., Siegelbaum, S., & Hudspeth, A. (2013). Principles of Neural Science (5a ed.). New York: McGraw Hill.
Manning, C., Miller, T., Burnham, M., Murnaghan, C., Calancie, B., & Bawa, P. (2010). Recovery of human motoneurons during rotation. Experimental Brain Research , 204(1), 139-144.
Mendell, L. (2005). The size principle: a rule describing the recruitment of motoneurons. Journal of Neurophysiology , 93(6), 3024-3026.
Remiro, G., Da Silva, M., & García Manso, J. (2014). La halterofilia aplicada al deporte. Wanceulen.
Siff, M., & Verkhoshansky, Y. (2000). Superentrenamiento. Paidotribo.
Somjen, G. C., Carpenter D. O. & Henneman E. (1965). Responses of motoneurons of different sizes to graded stimulation of supraspinal centers of the brain. Journal of Neurophysiology , 28(5), 958-965.
ter Haar Romeny, B. M., Denier van der Gon, J. J.& Gielen, C.C. (1982). Changes in recruitment order of motor units in the human biceps muscle. Experimental neurology. Nov; 78(2), 360-368.
Trimble, M., & Enoka, R. (1991). Mechanisms underlying the training effects associated with neuromuscular electrical stimulation . Physical Therapy , 71(4), 273-280.
Tucker, K., Butler, J., Graven-Nielsen, T., Riek, S., & Hodges, P. (2009). Motor Unit Recruitment Strategies Are Altered during Deep-Tissue Pain. The Journal of Neuroscience , 29(35), 10820-10826.
West, J. (1991). Physiological basis of medical practice (12a ed.). Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins.
Wyman, R., Waldron, I., & Watchel, M. (1974). Lack of Fixed Order of Recruitment in Cat Motoneuron. Experimental Brain Research , 20(2), 101-114.
Butler, J. (2007). Drive to the human respiratory muscles. Respiratory Physiology & Neurobiology, 159 (2) 115-126.
Butler, J., McKenzie, D., & Gandevia, S. (1999). Discharge properties and recruitment of human diaphragmatic motor units during voluntary inspiratory tasks. Journal of Physiology , 518(3) 907-920.
Delitto, A., & Snyder-Mackler, L. (1990). Two Theories of Muscle Strength Augmentation Using Percutaneous Electrical Stimulation . Physical Therapy , 70(3) 158-164.
Enoka, R., & Stuart, D. (1984). Henneman's Size Principle: Current Issues. Trends in Neuroscience , 7(7) 226-228.
Garnett, R., & Stephens, J. (1981). Changes in the recruitment threshold of motor units produced by cutaneous stimulation in man. . Journal of Physiology , 311(1) 463-473.
González Badillo, J., & Gorostiaga, E. (2002). Fundamentos del entrenamiento de la fuerza. Barcelona: INDE.
Gordon, T., Thomas, C., Munson, J., & Stein, R. (2004). The resilience of the size principle e in the organization of motor unit properties in normal and reinnervated adult skeletal muscles. Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology , 82 (8-9), 645-661.
Grimby, L., Hannerz, J., & Hedman, B. (1981). The fatige and voluntary discharge properties of single motor units in man. Journal of Physiology , 316(1), 545-554.
Henneman, E., Clamann, H. P., Gillies, J. D., & Skinner, R. (1974). Rank order of motoneurons within a pool: law of combination. Journal of Neurophysiology , 37(6), 1338-1349.
Kandel, E., Schwartz, J., Jessell, T., Siegelbaum, S., & Hudspeth, A. (2013). Principles of Neural Science (5a ed.). New York: McGraw Hill.
Manning, C., Miller, T., Burnham, M., Murnaghan, C., Calancie, B., & Bawa, P. (2010). Recovery of human motoneurons during rotation. Experimental Brain Research , 204(1), 139-144.
Mendell, L. (2005). The size principle: a rule describing the recruitment of motoneurons. Journal of Neurophysiology , 93(6), 3024-3026.
Remiro, G., Da Silva, M., & García Manso, J. (2014). La halterofilia aplicada al deporte. Wanceulen.
Siff, M., & Verkhoshansky, Y. (2000). Superentrenamiento. Paidotribo.
Somjen, G. C., Carpenter D. O. & Henneman E. (1965). Responses of motoneurons of different sizes to graded stimulation of supraspinal centers of the brain. Journal of Neurophysiology , 28(5), 958-965.
ter Haar Romeny, B. M., Denier van der Gon, J. J.& Gielen, C.C. (1982). Changes in recruitment order of motor units in the human biceps muscle. Experimental neurology. Nov; 78(2), 360-368.
Trimble, M., & Enoka, R. (1991). Mechanisms underlying the training effects associated with neuromuscular electrical stimulation . Physical Therapy , 71(4), 273-280.
Tucker, K., Butler, J., Graven-Nielsen, T., Riek, S., & Hodges, P. (2009). Motor Unit Recruitment Strategies Are Altered during Deep-Tissue Pain. The Journal of Neuroscience , 29(35), 10820-10826.
West, J. (1991). Physiological basis of medical practice (12a ed.). Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins.
Wyman, R., Waldron, I., & Watchel, M. (1974). Lack of Fixed Order of Recruitment in Cat Motoneuron. Experimental Brain Research , 20(2), 101-114.