Neuromuscular Fatigue and Metabolism during High-Intensity Intermittent Exercise

Purpose To examine the degree of neuromuscular fatigue development along with changes in muscle metabolism during two work-matched high-intensity intermittent exercise protocols in trained individuals. Methods In a randomized, counter-balanced, crossover design, 11 endurance-trained men performed high-intensity intermittent cycle exercise protocols matched for total work and including either multiple short-duration (18 × 5 s; SS) or long-duration (6 × 20 s; LS) sprints. Neuromuscular fatigue was determined by preexercise to postexercise changes in maximal voluntary contraction force, voluntary activation level and contractile properties of the quadriceps muscle. Metabolites and pH were measured in vastus lateralis muscle biopsies taken before and after the first and last sprint of each exercise protocol. Results Peak power output (11% ± 2% vs 16% ± 8%, P
Source: Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise - Category: Sports Medicine Tags: BASIC SCIENCES Source Type: research