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Postural sway under muscle vibration and muscle fatigue in humans.

Separate studies have demonstrated that vibration and fatigue of ankle muscles alter postural control. The purpose of the present experiment was to investigate the effect of ankle muscle vibration on the regulation of postural sway in bipedal stance following ankle muscle fatigue. Center of foot pressure displacements were recorded using a force platform. Results showed a similar increase in postural sway under muscle fatigue as well as under muscle vibration. Interestingly, under muscle fatigue muscle vibration did not induce a further increase in postural sway. Two hypotheses could, at least, account for this observation: (1). fatigued muscles are less sensitive to muscle vibration and (2). the central nervous system relies less upon proprioceptive information originating from fatigued muscles for regulating postural sway.

Adult↗

Biochemical adaptations to training: implications for resisting muscle fatigue.

Skeletal muscle activity is invariably associated with a decline in force-generating capacity (fatigue). The build-up of metabolic by-products such as intracellular H+ and inorganic phosphate (Pi) has been shown to be one of the potential mechanisms of muscle fatigue. The use of phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy is a repeatable and useful tool to study the effect of pH and Pi on force development. When maximal exercise is preceded by submaximal exercise to reduce the starting muscle pH and increase Pi, the degree of muscle fatigue correlates more strongly with H2PO4- than pH or Pi alone. However, other studies in humans have found that H2PO4- does not always correlate well with fatigue. The use of ramp exercise protocols allow repeatable and sensitive measurement of changes in muscle metabolism in response to endurance training. Chronic electrical stimulation in dogs and endurance training in humans results in reduced pH and Pi changes at the same exercise intensities. This means that the effect of pH and Pi in depressing force development is reduced, which could partially explain the increased fatigue resistance seen following endurance training.

Exercise↗

Muscle fatigue of the elbow flexor muscles during two intermittent exercise protocols with equal mean muscle loading.

OBJECTIVE: Whether different muscle-loading patterns with the same mean load have a similar influence on the resultant muscle fatigue is still unknown. This study investigated the influence of two intermittent exercise protocols, with equal mean muscle loading, on the mechanical and myoelectrical signs of fatigue in the elbow flexor muscles. DESIGN: Ten subjects performed two 20-min long intermittent isometric elbow flexion tasks. The exercise period load for the low force intermittent test was 25% of the maximum voluntary contraction, with a work-cycle time of 20 s and a duty cycle of 0.5. The high force intermittent exercise protocol had an exercise period load of 50% maximum voluntary contraction, a cycle time of 20 s and a duty cycle of 0.25. METHODS: Muscle fatigue was quantified both by measuring the maximal voluntary contraction torque before and after the intermittent exercises, and also by the temporal changes observed in the electromyography signal. RESULTS: Both muscle-loading patterns induced a 15% decrease in maximum voluntary contraction. However, the electromyographic spectral changes during the intermittent static contractions varied between the two protocols. CONCLUSIONS: Variation in muscle load without loss in productivity can affect the physiological responses. The results also showed that different methods to assess muscle fatigue sometimes provide different information on the resultant fatigue.

Adult↗

[Temporal muscle fatigue studied via muscle conduction velocity technics and spectral analysis of the electromyographic signal].

We examined 6 normal volunteers (3 males and 3 females, age 26-30). They were requested to clench as hard as they could until they felt pain. The experiment was repeated one hour later. Emg was recorded during the fatiguing exercise and the recovery period. We couldn't determine the muscle conduction velocity, probably because of the anatomy of the temporal muscle. The mean of the power spectrum showed wide variability and proved unsuitable for clinical applications, both for diagnosis and follow-up.

Adult↗

Respiratory muscle fatigue.

When respiratory muscle demands for energy exceed supplies, the energy stored within the muscles is depleted and the force of contraction diminishes. This state is called inspiratory muscle fatigue. When it occurs alveolar ventilation decreases, arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) increases and hypercapnic respiratory failure ensues. It has also been suggested that such a dysfunction of the respiratory muscles contributes to the pathogenesis of acute respiratory failure. The purpose of this article is to review those factors that predispose to respiratory muscle fatigue and determine energy demand and supply and the principal means of investigation available to detect respiratory muscle fatigue in the clinical setting.

Energy Metabolism↗

Muscle fatigue measured with evoked muscle vibrations.

Skeletal muscle vibrates laterally during voluntary and evoked muscle contractions. We hypothesized that the vibration amplitude from evoked muscle twitches is directly related to evoked twitch force from fatiguing muscle. To test the hypothesis, vibrations produced by evoked muscle twitches were recorded during short (5-second) rest periods as the muscle was intermittently exercised with voluntary contractions. Trials were performed at 30%, 50%, and 70% of maximal voluntary contraction. Evoked muscle twitches eliminated the problems of motivation and tremor that complicate sound and vibration measurements during voluntary contractions. Results from the first dorsal interosseus hand muscle in 11 normal adult volunteers revealed that the vibration amplitude is highly correlated (r2 = 0.93, at 70% MVC, r2 = 0.97, at 50% MVC; r2 = 0.85, at 30% MVC) with force. Both potentiation and reduction of force with exercise were accompanied by parallel changes in vibration amplitude, as measured with an accelerometer. Compound muscle action potentials did not increase with exercise-induced twitch potentiation, and did not correlate as highly with force during fatigue.

Action Potentials↗

Intracellular action potential generation and extinction strongly affect the sensitivity of M-wave characteristic frequencies to changes in the peripheral parameters with muscle fatigue.

Changes in muscle fibre propagation velocity (MFPV) and shape of intracellular action potentials (IAPs) accompany peripheral muscle fatigue. We have shown through mathematical simulations that the effects of IAP generation and extinction reduced the sensitivity of the mean (fmean) and median (fmed) frequency of M-wave power spectra to individual changes in MFPV. Due to the differences in weighting of the spectral components used for calculation of the characteristic frequencies, the highest spectral components of the M-wave affected the fmean more than the fmed. These components are related to the M-wave leading edge that reflects the IAP depolarization phase. They reduced the sensitivity of the spectral moment of order 1 to individual changes in MFPV and increased its sensitivity to IAP changes. Since the changes of the IAP depolarization phase during the final stages of peripheral muscle fatigue affected the fmean more, the range of the relative reductions of the fmean and fmed were approximately the same under combined changes in IAP and MFPV. The sensitivities of M-wave characteristic frequencies depended also on the electrode arrangement and position as well as on the length of active muscle fibres.

Action Potentials↗

Quantitative assessment of upper limb muscle fatigue depending on the conditions of repetitive task load.

The aim of this study was to discriminate fatigue of upper limb muscles depending on the external load, through the development and analysis of a muscle fatigue index. Muscle fatigue is expressed by a fatigue index based on an amplitude parameter (calculated in the time domain) and a fatigue index based on a frequency parameter (a parameter calculated in the frequency domain). The fatigue index involves a regression function that describes changes in the EMG signal parameter, time elapsing before muscle fatigue and the probability of specific trends in changes in EMG parameters for the population under study. The experimental study covered a group of 10 young men. During the study, they exerted force at a specific level and for a specific time in 12 load variants. During the study, EMG signals from four muscles of the upper limb were recorded (trapezius pars descendents, biceps brachii caput breve, extensor carpi radialis brevis, flexor carpi ulnaris). For each variant and for each examined muscles, the value of the fatigue index was calculated. Values of that index quantitatively expressed fatigue of a specific muscle in a specific load variant. A statistical analysis indicated variation in the fatigue of the biceps brachii caput breve, extensor carpi radialis brevis, and flexor carpi ulnaris muscles depending on the external load (load variant) according to the task performed with the upper limb. The study demonstrated usefulness of the fatigue index in expressing quantitatively muscle fatigue and in discriminating muscle fatigue depending on the external load.

Adult↗

Sex differences in human skeletal muscle fatigue.

Research on muscle fatigue suggests that greater fatigue resistance may be evident in females compared with males. The possible mechanisms for this sex difference include factors related to muscle mass, substrate utilization, muscle morphology, and neuromuscular activation.

Adult↗

Metabolic factors contributing to altered Ca2+ regulation in skeletal muscle fatigue.

AIM: Skeletal muscle fatigue is characterized by a failure to maintain force production or power output during intense exercise. Many recent studies on isolated fibres have used brief repetitive tetanic contractions to mimic fatigue resulting from intensive exercise and to investigate the underlying cellular mechanisms. Such studies have shown that characteristic changes in Ca2+ regulation occur during fatiguing stimulation. This includes prolongation of the 'Ca2+-tails' which follow each period of tetanic stimulation and a progressive rise in resting [Ca2+]. More importantly, the final stage of fatigue is associated with a rapid decrease in tetanic [Ca2+]i and force. These fatigue-induced changes in sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ regulation are temporally associated with alterations in the intracellular levels of phosphate metabolites and a causal relationship has often been proposed. The aim of this review is to evaluate the evidence linking changes in the levels of phosphate metabolites and altered Ca2+ regulation during fatigue. RESULTS: The following current hypotheses will be discussed: (1) the early changes in Ca2+ regulation reflect alterations in the intracellular levels of phosphate metabolites, (2) inhibition of the SR Ca2+ release mechanism (e.g. caused by ATP depletion and increased [Mg2+]) contributes to the decrease in tetanic [Ca2+]i during the final stages of fatigue and (iii) delayed entry of inorganic phosphate ions (Pi) into the SR, followed by precipitation of calcium phosphate (Ca-Pi), can explain the fatigue-induced decrease in tetanic [Ca2+]i. CONCLUSION: There is strong evidence that changes in phosphate metabolite levels contribute to early changes in SR Ca2+ regulation during fatigue and that inhibition of the SR Ca2+ release mechanism can partially explain the rapid decrease in tetanic [Ca2+]i during the final stages of fatigue. While precipitation of Ca-Pi may occur within the SR during fatigue, there is currently insufficient evidence to establish whether this contributes to the late decline in tetanic [Ca2+]i.

Animals↗

Effect of global inspiratory muscle fatigue on ventilatory and respiratory muscle responses to CO2.

We evaluated the effect of global inspiratory muscle fatigue on ventilation and respiratory muscle control during CO2 rebreathing in normal subjects. Fatigue was induced by breathing against a high inspiratory resistance until exhaustion. CO2 response curves were measured before and after fatigue. During CO2 rebreathing, global fatigue caused a decreased tidal volume (VT) and an increased breathing frequency but did not change minute ventilation, duty cycle, or mean inspiratory flow. Both esophageal and transdiaphragmatic pressure swings were significantly reduced after global fatigue, suggesting decreased contribution of both rib cage muscles and diaphragm to breathing. End-expiratory transpulmonary pressure for a given CO2 was lower after fatigue, indicating an additional decrease in end-expiratory lung volume due to expiratory muscle recruitment, which leads to a greater initial portion of inspiration being passive. This, combined with the reduction in VT, decreased the fraction of VT attributable to inspiratory muscle contribution; therefore the inspiratory muscle elastic work and power per breath were significantly reduced. We conclude that respiratory control mechanisms are plastic and that the respiratory centers alter their output in a manner appropriate to the contractile state of the respiratory muscles to conserve the ventilatory response to CO2.

Adult↗

[Chronic progressive obliterating arteriopathy and muscle fatigue: the role of frequency analysis of the electromyographic signal].

Clinical evaluation of patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is mainly based on Fontaine's classification, in which pain is the most important element. The use of objective techniques can allow a more precise evaluation, since pain is always subjective. In PAD patients, pain is frequently associated with early fatigue. Peripheral muscle fatigue can be easily assessed by a particular electromyographical method, based on the frequency analysis of the signal. In PAD patients, this method can provide objective information on muscular performance, with possible uses in medicine, surgery, rehabilitation and occupational medicine.

Arterial Occlusive Diseases↗

Inspiratory muscle fatigue in trained cyclists: effects of inspiratory muscle training.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the influence of simulated 20- and 40-km time trials upon postexercise inspiratory muscle function of trained competitive cyclists. In addition, we examined the influence of specific inspiratory muscle training (IMT) upon the responses observed. METHODS: Using a double-blind placebo-controlled design, 16 male cyclists (mean +/- SEM VO2max 64 +/- 2 mL.kg-1.min-1) were assigned randomly to either an experimental (IMT) or sham-training control (placebo) group. Maximum static and dynamic inspiratory muscle function was assessed immediately pre- and <2, 10, and 30 min post-simulated 20- and 40-km time trials before and after 6-wk of IMT or sham-IMT. RESULTS: Maximum inspiratory mouth pressure (P0) measured within 2 min of completing the 20- and 40-km time trial rides was reduced by 18% and 13%, respectively, and remained below preexercise values at 30 min. The 20- and 40-km time trials induced a reduction in inspiratory flow rate at 30% P0 by 14% and 6% in the IMT group versus 13% and 7% for the placebo group, and also remained below preexercise values at 30 min. There was also a significant slowing of inspiratory muscle relaxation rate postexercise; these trends were almost completely reversed by 30 min postexercise. Significant improvements in 20- and 40-km time trial performance were seen (3.8 +/- 1.7% and 4.6 +/- 1.9%, respectively; P < 0.05) and postexercise reductions in muscle function were attenuated with IMT. CONCLUSION: These data support existing evidence that there is significant global inspiratory muscle fatigue after sustained heavy endurance exercise. Furthermore, the present study provides new evidence that performance enhancements observed after IMT are accompanied by a decrease in inspiratory muscle fatigue.

Adult↗

Effect of diazepam on calcium translocation during physiological muscle fatigue.

Stimulation of frog sartorius muscle at 1 Hz leads to an initial positive staircase during the first 120 twitches and is followed by a negative staircase. There is a net calcium influx into two distinct compartments within the muscle during the positive staircase. The two compartments are separated by measuring the calcium extracted from muscles soaked in strontium-Ringer for 15 min and the calcium remaining in the muscle. A net gain of extractable Ca++ (0.32 mumol/g wet wt.) and residual Ca++ (0.18 mumol/g) is observed during positive staircase. A loss in residual Ca++, a gain in extractable Ca++ and a net loss of Ca++ (0.09 mumol/g) to the bathing medium occur during the period preceding physiological muscle fatigue (60 to 120 twitches). Diazepam (EC50, 5.6 X 10(-6) M) causes a marked reduction in the latent period and increases the rate constant 2.6 times the control value for physiological muscle fatigue. A net loss of 0.31 mumol/g of Ca++ to the bathing medium occurs during the interval between 60 and 120 twitches. Diazepam increases net Ca++ efflux 3.5-fold during this interval when compared to control muscles. Diazepam does not affect the Ca++ gained during the positive staircase but accelerates the loss of calcium from the residual and the extractable compartments during the initial phase of physiological muscle fatigue. Physiological muscle fatigue is attributed to an accumulation of calcium in the transverse tubular network and an uncoupling of the muscle action potential from contraction.

Animals↗

Contralateral muscle fatigue in human quadriceps muscle: evidence for a centrally mediated fatigue response and cross-over effect.

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of voluntary muscular fatigue in one lower limb and determine whether a 'cross-over' of fatigue is evident in the contralateral limb. Twenty-eight subjects (13 males and 15 females) performed a series of voluntary and evoked isometric contractions of both the dominant (exercised) and non-dominant (non-exercised) leg extensor muscles, prior to and after a fatigue protocol consisting of a 100-s sustained maximal isometric contraction (MVC) performed by the dominant limb only. Force values and surface electromyography (EMG) from the vastus lateralis muscle were obtained allowing for the determination of twitch and compound action potential (M-wave) values. Maximal twitch tension and peak-to-peak amplitude were significantly decreased after the fatigue test in the dominant limb, as was maximal voluntary force (approximately 65 N reduction), EMG activity (approximately 0.1 mV decrease) and voluntary activation (approximately 17% decline). However, no significant changes were observed in the non-dominant limb with respect to twitch and M-wave properties nor in MVC force. The voluntary activation of the non-dominant limb decreased significantly by 8.7% after the fatigue test, which was performed only on the dominant limb. The results of the present study suggest that the decrease in force production in the exercised limb was primarily related to peripheral fatigue mechanisms, with central fatigue making a lesser contribution. Centrally mediated mechanisms appear to be the sole contributor to fatigue in the non-exercised limb suggesting an anticipatory fatigue response and a 'cross-over' of central fatigue between the exercised and non-exercised contralateral limb.

Action Potentials↗

Muscle fatigue and pain.

Muscle fatigue and pain are together common symptoms which can be analysed physiologically. For many patients attending a medical clinic the problem for the doctor is to decide whether the problem is "in the mind" or "in the muscle". A history of the symptoms occurring at rest without any exercise is a hint of psychological origin. Exercise fatigue or pain should ideally be reproduced by an appropriate provoking exercise test. Needle biopsy with histochemistry is cost-effective as a means of reaching a diagnosis while blood determinations of erythrocyte sedimentation rate and plasma creatine kinase and lactate are more specific but less sensitive indicators of a muscle cause. Fatigue is analysed by force and action potential measurements with electrically stimulated contractions. Pain worse after exercise can be related to muscle damage. A programme of therapeutic exercise may be tried as a further means of assessment of these symptoms.

Humans↗

Increasing blood flow before exercise in spinal cord-injured individuals does not alter muscle fatigue.

Previous studies have shown increased fatigue in paralyzed muscle of spinal cord-injured (SCI) patients (Castro M, Apple D Jr, Hillegass E, and Dudley GA. Eur J Appl Physiol 80: 373-378, 1999; Gerrits H, Hopman MTE, Sargeant A, and de Haan A. Clin Physiol 21: 105-113, 2001). Our purpose was to determine whether the increased muscle fatigue could be due to a delayed rise in blood flow at the onset of exercise in SCI individuals. Isometric electrical stimulation was used to induce fatigue in the quadriceps femoris muscle of seven male, chronic (>1 yr postinjury), complete (American Spinal Injury Association, category A) SCI subjects. Cuff occlusion was used to elevate blood flow before electrical stimulation, and the magnitude of fatigue was compared with a control condition of electrical stimulation without prior cuff occlusion. Blood flow was measured in the femoral artery by Doppler ultrasound. Prior cuff occlusion increased blood flow in the first 30 s of stimulation compared with the No-Cuff condition (1,350 vs. 680 ml/min, respectively; P < 0.001), although blood flow at the end of stimulation was the same between conditions (1,260 +/- 140 vs. 1,160 +/- 370 ml/min, Cuff and No-Cuff condition, respectively; P = 0.511). Muscle fatigue was not significantly different between prior cuff occlusion and the control condition (32 +/- 13 vs. 35 +/- 10%; P = 0.670). In conclusion, increased muscle fatigue in SCI individuals is not associated with the prolonged time for blood flow to increase at the onset of exercise.

Adult↗

Reduction of muscle fatigue by catchlike-inducing intermittent electrical stimulation in rat skeletal muscle.

Catchlike property is the force enhancement produced when a brief, high-frequency burst of pulses is added to a constant low-frequency stimulation. In functional electrical stimulation, constant low-frequency stimulation of approximately 20 Hz has primarily been used to reduce muscle fatigue. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of catchlike-inducing intermittent stimulation on muscle fatigue in relation to continuous intermittent low-frequency stimulation. Twenty-two adult male Wistar ST rats were randomly assigned into the constant frequency stimulation (CFS) group or the catchlike-inducing stimulation (CIS) group. In the CFS group, constant low-frequency stimulation of 20 Hz was applied intermittently (4 seconds "ON"/15 seconds "OFF"). In the CIS group, a single electrical burst of 100 Hz was applied at the start of the every 4-second period of stimulation. The muscle fatigue test lasted for 16 min and isometric muscle force, muscle fatigue, and muscular workload were evaluated. CIS significantly increased the maximum muscular force (under fatigued condition) and workload, and significantly decreased muscle fatigue (p < 0.05). The results of this study suggest that catchlike-inducing intermittent electrical stimulation is useful in the clinical administration of functional electrical stimulation.

Animals↗