Maximal Voluntary Eccentric, Isometric and Concentric Torque   Recovery Following a Concentric Isokinetic Exercise

A. Michaut; M. Pousson; G. Millet; J. Belleville; J. Van Hoecke

doi:10.1055/s-2003-37199

International Journal of Sports Medicine, Table of Contents

Int J Sports Med 2003; 24(1): 51-56
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-37199

Training & Testing

Maximal Voluntary Eccentric, Isometric and Concentric Torque Recovery Following a Concentric Isokinetic Exercise

A. Michaut¹ , M. Pousson¹ , G. Millet¹ , J. Belleville² , J. Van Hoecke¹

¹Groupe Analyse du Mouvement (GAM), UFR STAPS, Faculté des Sciences du Sport, Dijon, France
²UPRES Lipides et Nutrition, E.A. 2422, Faculté des Sciences Mirande, Dijon, France

Abstract

To examine neuromuscular fatigue and recovery following an isokinetic fatiguing exercise, nine active females performed a fatiguing exercise comprising of ten sets of ten maximal concentric knee extensions. Before (pre-test), five minutes (post-test), 24 h and 48 h after the fatiguing exercise, maximal voluntary eccentric (-1.05 rad × s^-1; -2.09 rad × s^-1), isometric (0 rad × s^-1) and concentric (1.05 rad × s^-1; 2.09 rad × s^-1) torque were measured. In order to distinguish central from peripheral factors involved in torque decrement, activation level (twitch interpolation technique) and twitch contractile properties were recorded. During the course of the fatiguing exercise, concentric torque was significantly lower during the 3rd set than pre-test (-5.6 ± 12.3 %) and further decreased to the 10th (-10.3 ± 9.5 %). Eccentric and isometric torques were significantly lower during post-test than pre-test (-16.8 ± 8.8 % at -2.09 rad × s^-1, -15.1 ± 7.4 % at -1.05 rad × s^-1, and -10.4 ± 5.9 % at 0 rad × s^-1; p < 0.05), while concentric torque was not significantly modified. Voluntary activation, peak twitch torque, twitch maximal rates of force development and relaxation were also significantly declined (p < 0.05) at post-test. Twenty-four hours later, all the measured parameters were close to their pre-fatigue values. The present results reveal that the best way to test concentric-induced alteration of neuromuscular function was to use stressful testing conditions, such as eccentric contractions.

Key words

Maximal torque - central fatigue - peripheral fatigue

Full Text

References

1 Baker A J, Kostov K G, Miller R G, Weiner M W. Slow force recovery after long-duration exercise: metabolic and activation factors in muscle fatigue. J Appl Physiol. 1993; 74 2294-2300
2 Belanger A Y, McComas A J. Extent of motor unit activation during effort. J Appl Physiol. 1981; 51 1131-1135
3 Bergam I, Loxley R. The determination of hydroxyproline in urine hydrolysates. Clin Chim Acta. 1970; 27 347-349
4 Bigland-Ritchie B, Furbush F, Woods J J. Fatigue of intermittent submaximal contractions: central and peripheral factors. J Appl Physiol. 1986; 61 421-429
5 Borsa P A, Sauers E L. The importance of gender on myokinetic deficits before and after microinjury. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2000; 32 891-896
6 Brown S J, Child R B, Day S H, Donnelly A E. Indices of skeletal muscle damage and connective tissue breakdown following eccentric muscle contractions. Eur J Appl Physiol. 1997; 75 369-374
7 Bülow P M, Nørregaard J, Mehlsen J, Danneskiold-Samsøe B. The twitch interpolation technique for study of fatigue of human quadriceps muscle. J Neurosci Meth. 1995; 62 103-109
8 Dawson M J, Gadian D G, Wilkie D R. Mechanical relaxation rate and metabolism studied in fatiguing muscle by phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance. J Physiol. 1980; 299 465-484
9 Duke A M, Steele D S. Mechanisms of reduced SR Ca²⁺ release induced by inorganic phosphate in rat skeletal muscle fibers. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2001; 281 C418-429
10 Enoka R M. Eccentric contractions require unique activation strategies by the nervous system. J Appl Physiol. 1996; 81 2339-2346
11 Fuglevand A J, Zackowski K M, Huey K A, Enoka R M. Impairment of neuromuscular propagation during human fatiguing contractions at submaximal forces. J Physiol. 1993; 460 549-572
12 Gandevia S C, Herbert R D, Leeper J B. Voluntary activation of human elbow flexor muscles during maximal concentric contractions. J Physiol. 1998; 512 595-602
13 Gibala M J, MacDougall J D, Tarnopolsky M A, Stauber W T, Elorriaga A. Changes in human skeletal muscle ultrastructure and force production after acute resistance exercise. J Appl Physiol. 1995; 78 702-708
14 Green H. Neuromuscular aspects of fatigue. Can J Sports Sci. 1987; 12 7-19
15 Hakkinen K. Neuromuscular fatigue and recovery in male and female athletes during strenuous heavy resistance exercise. Int J Sports Med. 1993; 14 53-59
16 Hakkinen K. Neuromuscular fatigue in males and females during strenuous heavy resistance loading. Electomyogr Clin. Neurophysiol. 1994; 34 205-214
17 Hakkinen K, Pakarinen A. Acute hormonal responses to two different fatiguing heavy-resistance protocols in male athletes. J Appl Physiol. 1993; 74 882-887
18 Huber A, Suter E, Herzog W. Inhibition of the quadriceps muscles in elite male volleyball players. J Sports Sci. 1998; 16 281-289
19 Jones D A, Bigland-Ritchie B. Electrical and contractile changes in muscle fatigue. In: Saltin B (ed) Biochemistry of exercise. International series on sports science. Champaign, IL; Human Kinetics 1986 16: 377-392
20 Kassirer J P. Clinical evaluation of kidney function-glomerular function. N Engl J Med. 1971; 285 385-389
21 Katz B. The relation between force and speed in muscular contraction. J Physiol. 1939; 96 45-64
22 Labbe D, Vassault A. A selected method for the determination of serum creatinine. Ann Biol Clin. 1993; 51 427
23 Linnamo V, Häkkinen K, Komi P V. Neuromuscular fatigue and recovery in maximal compared to explosive strength loading. Eur J Appl Physiol. 1998; 77 176-181
24 Linnamo V, Bottas R, Komi P V. Force and EMG power spectrum during and after eccentric and concentric fatigue. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2000; 10 293-300
25 Mardsen C DJ, Meadows J C, Merton P A. “Muscular wisdom” that minimized fatigue during prolonged effort in man: peak rates of motoneuron discharge and slowing of discharge during fatigue. In: Desmedt JE (ed) Motor control mechanisms in health and disease. New York; Raven 1983: 169-211
26 Merton P A. Voluntary strength and fatigue. J Physiol. 1954; 123 553-564
27 Newham D J, McCarthy T, Turner J. Voluntary activation of human quadriceps during and after isokinetic exercise. J Appl Physiol. 1991; 71 2122-2126
28 Pasquet B, Carpentier A, Duchateau J, Hainaut K. Muscle fatigue during concentric and eccentric contractions. Muscle Nerve. 2000; 23 1727-1735
29 Paul G L. Dietary protein requirements of physically active individuals. Sports Med. 1989; 8 154-176
30 Raastad T, Hallen J. Recovery of skeletal muscle contractility after high- and moderate-intensity strength exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2000; 82 206-214
31 Rinard J, Clarkson P M, Smith L L, Grossman M. Male and female response to high-force eccentric exercise. J Sports Sci. 2000; 18 229-236
32 Westing S H, Cresswell A G, Thostensson A. Muscle activation during maximal voluntary eccentric and concentric knee extension. Eur J Appl Physiol. 1991; 62 104-108

A. Michaut

Institut National des Sports et de l'Education Physique (I.N.S.E.P.)

11, Av. du Tremblay · 75012 Paris · France ·

Phone: +33 (1] 41744471

Fax: +33 (1) 41744535

Email: anne.michaut@insep.fr