Peripheral and Central Fatigue Development during All-Out Repeated Cycling Sprints

PURPOSEWe investigated the development and recovery of peripheral and central fatigue during repeated cycling sprints and its influence on power output. METHODSOn six separate days, 12 healthy males performed the following tests1, 4, 6, 8, and 10 × 10 s sprints with 30 s of passive recovery between...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Medicine and science in sports and exercise 2016-03, Vol.48 (3), p.391-401
Main Authors: HUREAU, THOMAS J, DUCROCQ, GUILLAUME P, BLAIN, GREGORY M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Bicycling
Bicycling - physiology
Electric Stimulation
Electromyography
Human health and pathology
Humans
Life Sciences
Male
Muscle Contraction
Muscle Fatigue
Muscle Fatigue - physiology
Physical Exertion
Physical Exertion - physiology
Quadriceps Muscle
Quadriceps Muscle - physiology
Tissues and Organs
Young Adult
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Summary:PURPOSEWe investigated the development and recovery of peripheral and central fatigue during repeated cycling sprints and its influence on power output. METHODSOn six separate days, 12 healthy males performed the following tests1, 4, 6, 8, and 10 × 10 s sprints with 30 s of passive recovery between sprints, as well as 8 × 10 s sprints with 10 s of passive recovery. Peripheral and central fatigue levels were quantified via changes in preexercise- to postexercise-potentiated quadriceps twitch force, as evoked by supramaximal electrical stimulation of the femoral nerve (30 s through 6 min recovery), and quadriceps voluntary activation (VA), respectively. Root mean square of the vastus lateralis and the vastus medialis electromyogram during sprints were normalized by maximal M wave amplitude (RMS·Mmax). RESULTSFrom the first to the sixth sprint, we found significant and gradual reductions in power output (−25% ± 7%), RMS·Mmax (−7% ± 4%), twitch force (−47% ± 11%) and VA (−11% ± 6%). During the subsequent sprints, no additional reduction in power output, RMS·Mmax, twitch force or VA, was found. Reduction in between-sprints recovery duration led to a significant reduction in power output and RMS·Mmax but no change in peripheral and central fatigue. CONCLUSIONThese findings are consistent with the hypothesis that central motor command and power output during all-out repeated sprints are limited in order to prevent excessive locomotor muscle fatigue. They also demonstrate that both the peripheral and central fatigue contribute significantly to the decline in power output elicited via repeated sprints.
ISSN:0195-9131
1530-0315
DOI:10.1249/MSS.0000000000000800