Central and Peripheral Fatigue in Sustained Maximum Voluntary Contractions of Human Quadriceps Muscle

1978 ◽  
Vol 54 (6) ◽  
pp. 609-614 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Bigland-Ritchie ◽  
D. A. Jones ◽  
G. P. Hosking ◽  
R. H. T. Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Maximum Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Central Fatigue ◽  
Quadriceps Muscle ◽  
Surface Emg ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Peripheral Fatigue ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Extra Effort ◽  
Voluntary Contractions

1. The fatigue of force that occurs during the first 60 s of a maximum voluntary contraction of the human quadriceps has been examined by comparing the voluntary force with that obtained by brief tetanic stimulation at 50 Hz in nine healthy subjects. In three subjects the voluntary force declined in parallel with the tetanic force whereas in the remainder it fell more rapidly, suggesting that central fatigue was present. 2. For those subjects who showed little or no central fatigue, surface electromyograph (EMG) activity remained approximately constant while the force declined by about 60%. In the others, EMG activity and force declined in parallel but when an extra effort was made the subjects could briefly increase their force and this was accompanied by a proportionately greater increase in EMG activity (generally up to the original value). 3. It is concluded that in sustained maximum voluntary contractions of the quadriceps (a) central fatigue may account for an appreciable proportion of the force loss, (b) surface EMG recordings provide no evidence that neuromuscular junction failure is the limiting factor determining the loss of force in this muscle.

Plyometric Training Does Not Affect Central and Peripheral Muscle Fatigue Differently in Prepubertal Girls and Boys

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 547-556 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albertas Skurvydas ◽  
Marius Brazaitis
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Fatigue ◽  
Central Fatigue ◽  
Quadriceps Muscle ◽  
Voluntary Activation ◽  
Peripheral Fatigue ◽  
Plyometric Training ◽  
Peripheral Muscle ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Voluntary Contractions ◽  
Prepubertal Girls

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of plyometric training (PT) on central and peripheral (muscle) fatigue in prepubertal girls and boys. The boys (n = 13, age 10.3 ± 0.3 years) and girls (n = 13, age, 10.2 ± 0.3 years) performed continuous 2-min maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) before and after 16 high-intensity PT sessions. PT comprised two training sessions per week of 30 jumps in each session with 20 s between jumps. The greatest effect of PT was on excitation–contraction coupling, (twitch force increased by 323% in boys and 21% in girls) and height of a counter–movement jump (increased by 37% in boys and 38% in girls). In contrast, the quadriceps voluntary activation index, central activation ratio, and MVC did not change significantly after PT. The thickness of the quadriceps muscle increased by 9% in boys and 14% in girls after PT. In conclusion, boys and girls demonstrated similar changes in indicators of central fatigue (50–60% decrease) and peripheral fatigue (45–55% decrease) after MVC before and after PT.

scholarly journals Quadriceps Muscle Fatigue Reduces Extension and Flexion Power During Maximal Cycling

2022 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven J. O'Bryan ◽  
Janet L. Taylor ◽  
Jessica M. D'Amico ◽  
David M. Rouffet
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Fatigue ◽  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Power Production ◽  
Quadriceps Muscle ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Voluntary Activation ◽  
Peripheral Fatigue ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Pedal Force ◽  
Voluntary Contractions

Purpose: To investigate how quadriceps muscle fatigue affects power production over the extension and flexion phases and muscle activation during maximal cycling.Methods: Ten participants performed 10-s maximal cycling efforts without fatigue and after 120 bilateral maximal concentric contractions of the quadriceps muscles. Extension power, flexion power and electromyographic (EMG) activity were compared between maximal cycling trials. We also investigated the associations between changes in quadriceps force during isometric maximal voluntary contractions (IMVC) and power output (flexion and extension) during maximal cycling, in addition to inter-individual variability in muscle activation and pedal force profiles.Results: Quadriceps IMVC (−52 ± 21%, P = 0.002), voluntary activation (−24 ± 14%, P < 0.001) and resting twitch amplitude (−45 ± 19%, P = 0.002) were reduced following the fatiguing task, whereas vastus lateralis (P = 0.58) and vastus medialis (P = 0.15) M-wave amplitudes were unchanged. The reductions in extension power (−15 ± 8%, P < 0.001) and flexion power (−24 ± 18%, P < 0.001) recorded during maximal cycling with fatigue of the quadriceps were dissociated from the decreases in quadriceps IMVC. Peak EMG decreased across all muscles while inter-individual variability in pedal force and EMG profiles increased during maximal cycling with quadriceps fatigue.Conclusion: Quadriceps fatigue induced by voluntary contractions led to reduced activation of all lower limb muscles, increased inter-individual variability and decreased power production during maximal cycling. Interestingly, power production was further reduced over the flexion phase (24%) than the extension phase (15%), likely due to larger levels of peripheral fatigue developed in RF muscle and/or a higher contribution of the quadriceps muscle to flexion power production compared to extension power during maximal cycling.

Acoustic myography for investigating human skeletal muscle fatigue

1991 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 1422-1426 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Stokes ◽  
P. A. Dalton
Keyword(s):  
Isometric Force ◽  
Maximum Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Force Production ◽  
Rectus Femoris ◽  
Quadriceps Muscle ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Fatigued Muscle ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Acoustic Myography ◽  
Voluntary Contractions

Sounds produced during voluntary isometric contractions of the quadriceps muscle were studied by acoustic myography (AMG) in five healthy adults. With the subject seated, isometric force, surface electromyography (EMG), and AMG were recorded over rectus femoris, and the EMG and AMG signals were integrated (IEMG and IAMG). Contractions lasting 5 s each were performed at 10, 25, 50, 60, 75, and 100% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) force. Fatigue was then induced by repeated voluntary contractions (10 s on, 10 s off) at 75% MVC until only 40% MVC could be sustained. After 15 min of rest, the different force levels were again tested in relation to the fresh MVC. Both before and after fatiguing activity the relationships between force and IEMG [r = 0.99 +/- 0.01 (SD), n = 10] and force and IAMG (r = 0.98 +/- 0.02) were linear. After activity, however, the slopes of the regression lines for force and IEMG increased (P less than 0.01) but those for force and IAMG remained the same (P greater than 0.05). The present results clarify the relationship between AMG and isometric force in fatigued muscle without the problem of fatigue-induced tremor, which hampered previous studies of prolonged activity. This study contributes to the validation of AMG and shows that it is a potentially useful method for noninvasive assessment of force production and fatigue. Further studies to establish the origin of AMG activity are required before AMG can be accepted for use in neuromuscular physiology or rehabilitation.

Neuromuscular Fatigue in Individuals With Intellectual Disability: Comparison Between Sedentary Individuals and Athletes

Motor Control ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 264-282
Author(s):  
Rihab Borji ◽  
Firas Zghal ◽  
Nidhal Zarrouk ◽  
Sonia Sahli ◽  
Haithem Rebai
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Recovery Period ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Neuromuscular Fatigue ◽  
Voluntary Activation ◽  
Peripheral Fatigue ◽  
Typical Development ◽  
Activation Level ◽  
Voluntary Activation Level ◽  
Voluntary Contractions

The authors explored neuromuscular fatigue in athletes with intellectual disability (AID) compared with sedentary individuals with intellectual disability (SID) and individuals with typical development. Force, voluntary activation level, potentiated resting twitch, and electromyography signals were assessed during isometric maximal voluntary contractions performed before and immediately after an isometric submaximal exhaustive contraction (15% isometric maximal voluntary contractions) and during recovery period. AID presented shorter time to task failure than SID (p < .05). The three groups presented similar isometric maximal voluntary contraction decline and recovery kinetic. Both groups with intellectual disability presented higher voluntary activation level and root mean square normalized to peak-to-peak M-wave amplitude declines (p < .05) compared with individuals with typical development. These declines were more pronounced in SID (p < .05) than in AID. The AID recovered their initial voluntary activation level later than controls, whereas SID did not. SID presented lower potentiated resting twitch decline compared with AID and controls with faster recovery (p < .05). AID presented attenuated central fatigue and accentuated peripheral fatigue compared with their sedentary counterparts, suggesting a neuromuscular profile close to that of individuals with typical development.

Initial phase of maximal voluntary and electrically stimulated knee extension torque development at different knee angles

2004 ◽  
Vol 97 (5) ◽  
pp. 1693-1701 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. de Ruiter ◽  
R. D. Kooistra ◽  
M. I. Paalman ◽  
A. de Haan
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Activation ◽  
Knee Extensor ◽  
Surface Emg ◽  
Knee Extension ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Voluntary Activation ◽  
Knee Angle ◽  
Time Integral ◽  
Voluntary Contractions ◽  
Torque Development

We investigated the capacity for torque development and muscle activation at the onset of fast voluntary isometric knee extensions at 30, 60, and 90° knee angle. Experiments were performed in subjects ( n = 7) who had high levels (>90%) of activation at the plateau of maximal voluntary contractions. During maximal electrical nerve stimulation (8 pulses at 300 Hz), the maximal rate of torque development (MRTD) and torque time integral over the first 40 ms (TTI40) changed in proportion with torque at the different knee angles (highest values at 60°). At each knee angle, voluntary MRTD and stimulated MRTD were similar ( P < 0.05), but time to voluntary MRTD was significantly longer. Voluntary TTI40 was independent ( P > 0.05) of knee angle and on average (all subjects and angles) only 40% of stimulated TTI40. However, among subjects, the averaged (across knee angles) values ranged from 10.3 ± 3.1 to 83.3 ± 3.2% and were positively related ( r2 = 0.75, P < 0.05) to the knee-extensor surface EMG at the start of torque development. It was concluded that, although all subjects had high levels of voluntary activation at the plateau of maximal voluntary contraction, among subjects and independent of knee angle, the capacity for fast muscle activation varied substantially. Moreover, in all subjects, torque developed considerably faster during maximal electrical stimulation than during maximal voluntary effort. At different knee angles, stimulated MRTD and TTI40 changed in proportion with stimulated torque, but voluntary MRTD and TTI40 changed less than maximal voluntary torque.

Reflex Inhibition of Normal Cramp Following Electrical Stimulation of the Muscle Tendon

2007 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
pp. 1102-1107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Serajul I. Khan ◽  
John A. Burne
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Stimulation ◽  
Maximum Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Muscle Cramp ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Reflex Inhibition ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Inhibitory Feedback ◽  
Two Phases ◽  
Stimulation Of

Muscle cramp was induced in one head of the gastrocnemius muscle (GA) in eight of thirteen subjects using maximum voluntary contraction when the muscle was in the shortened position. Cramp in GA was painful, involuntary, and localized. Induction of cramp was indicated by the presence of electromyographic (EMG) activity in one head of GA while the other head remained silent. In all cramping subjects, reflex inhibition of cramp electrical activity was observed following Achilles tendon electrical stimulation and they all reported subjective relief of cramp. Thus muscle cramp can be inhibited by stimulation of tendon afferents in the cramped muscle. When the inhibition of cramp-generated EMG and voluntary EMG was compared at similar mean EMG levels, the area and timing of the two phases of inhibition (I1, I2) did not differ significantly. This strongly suggests that the same reflex pathway was the source of the inhibition in both cases. Thus the cramp-generated EMG is also likely to be driven by spinal synaptic input to the motorneurons. We have found that the muscle conditions that appear necessary to facilitate cramp, a near to maximal contraction of the shortened muscle, are also the conditions that render the inhibition generated by tendon afferents ineffective. When the strength of tendon inhibition in cramping subjects was compared with that in subjects that failed to cramp, it was found to be significantly weaker under the same experimental conditions. It is likely that reduced inhibitory feedback from tendon afferents has an important role in generating cramp.

Fatigue of intermittent submaximal voluntary contractions: central and peripheral factors

1986 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 421-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Bigland-Ritchie ◽  
F. Furbush ◽  
J. J. Woods
Keyword(s):  
No Reduction ◽  
Rest Period ◽  
Central Fatigue ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Adductor Pollicis ◽  
M Wave ◽  
Generating Capacity ◽  
Target Force ◽  
Voluntary Contractions ◽  
Muscle Contractile

Central and peripheral factors were studied in fatigue of submaximal intermittent isometric contractions of the human quadriceps and soleus muscles. Subjects made repeated 6 s, 50% maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) followed by 4 s rest until the limit of endurance (Tlim). Periodically, a fatigue test was performed. This included a brief MVC, either a single shock or 8 pulses at 50 Hz during a rest period and a shock superimposed on a target force voluntary contraction. At Tlim, the MVC force had declined by 50%, usually in parallel with the force from stimulation at 50 Hz. The twitches superimposed on the target forces declined more rapidly, disappearing entirely at Tlim. In similar experiments on adductor pollicis, no reduction of the evoked M wave was seen. The results suggest that, during fatigue of quadriceps and adductor pollicis induced by this protocol, no central fatigue was apparent, but some was seen in soleus. Thus the reduced force-generating capacity could result mainly or entirely from failure of the muscle contractile apparatus.

Changes of muscular sound during sustained isometric contraction up to exhaustion

1989 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 1593-1598 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Orizio ◽  
R. Perini ◽  
A. Veicsteinas
Keyword(s):  
Isometric Contraction ◽  
Exercise Intensity ◽  
Maximum Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Isometric Exercise ◽  
Surface Emg ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Biceps Muscle ◽  
Output Force ◽  
Contact Transducer ◽  
Four Levels

The sound (SMG) generated by the biceps muscle during isometric exercise at 20, 40, 60, and 80% of maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) up to exhaustion has been recorded by a contact transducer and integrated (iSMG), together with the surface electromyogram (EMG) in eight young untrained men. At the onset of exercise, iSMG and integrated surface EMG (iEMG) amplitude increased linearly with exercise. iSMG remained constant for 253 +/- 73 (SD), 45 +/- 16, 21 +/- 5, and 0 s at the four levels of contraction. Then iSMG increased linearly at 20% MVC, fluctuated at 40% MVC, and decreased exponentially at 60 and 80% MVC. iSMG exhaustion-to-onset ratio was 5.0 at 20%, 1.0 at 40%, and 0.2 at 60 and 80% MVC. On the contrary, independently of exercise intensity, iEMG increased with time, being 1.4 higher at exhaustion than at the onset. The nonunivocal iSMG changes with time and effort of exercise suggest that the sound may be a useful tool to acquire different information to EMG and output force during muscle contraction up to fatigue.

Activation varies among the knee extensor muscles during a submaximal fatiguing contraction in the seated and supine postures

2003 ◽  
Vol 95 (4) ◽  
pp. 1515-1522 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Rochette ◽  
S. K. Hunter ◽  
N Place ◽  
R Lepers
Keyword(s):  
Vastus Lateralis ◽  
Maximum Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Knee Extensor ◽  
Voluntary Contraction ◽  
Emg Activity ◽  
Task Failure ◽  
Rate Of Increase ◽  
Extensor Muscles ◽  
Seated Posture ◽  
Knee Extensor Muscles

Ten young men sustained an isometric contraction of the knee extensor muscles at 20% of the maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) torque on three separate occasions in a seated posture. Subjects performed an isometric knee extension contraction on a fourth occasion in a supine posture. The time to task failure for the seated posture was similar across sessions (291 ± 84 s; P > 0.05), and the MVC torque was similarly reduced across sessions after the fatiguing contraction (42 ± 12%). The rate of increase in electromyograph (EMG) activity (%MVC) and torque fluctuations during the fatiguing contractions were similar across sessions. However, the rate of increase in EMG differed among the knee extensor muscles: the rectus femoris began at a greater amplitude (31.5 ± 11.0%) compared with the vastus lateralis and vastus medialis muscles (18.8 ± 5.3%), but it ended at a similar value (45.4 ± 3.1%). The time to task failure and increase in EMG activity were similar for the seated and supine tasks; however, the reduction in MVC torque was greater for the seated posture. These findings indicate that the time to task failure for the knee extensor muscles that have a common tendon insertion did not alter over repeat sessions as had been observed for the elbow flexor muscles (Hunter SK and Enoka RM. J Appl Physiol 94: 108-118, 2003).

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