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Marzouk M, McKeown DJ, Borg DN, Headrick J, Kavanagh JJ. Perceptions of fatigue and neuromuscular measures of performance fatigability during prolonged low-intensity elbow flexions. Exp Physiol 2023; 108:465-479. [PMID: 36763088 PMCID: PMC10103868 DOI: 10.1113/ep090981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
NEW FINDINGS What is the central question of this study? What is the predictive relationship between self-reported scales to quantify perceptions of fatigue during exercise and gold standard measures used to quantify the development of neuromuscular fatigue? What is the main finding and its importance? No scale was determined to be substantively more effective than another. However, the number of ongoing contractions performed was shown to be a better predictor of fatigue in the motor system than any of the subjective scales. ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) measures of performance fatigability and commonly used scales that quantify perceptions of fatigue during exercise. Twenty healthy participants (age 23 ± 3 years, 10 female) performed 10 submaximal isometric elbow flexions at 20% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) for 2 min, separated by 45 s of rest. Biceps brachii muscle electromyography and elbow flexion torque responses to single-pulse TMS were obtained at the end of each contraction to assess central factors of performance fatigability. A rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scale, Omnibus Resistance scale, Likert scale, Rating of Fatigue scale and a visual analogue scale (VAS) were used to assess perceptions of fatigue at the end of each contraction. The RPE (root mean square error (RMSE) = 0.144) and Rating of Fatigue (RMSE = 0.145) scales were the best predictors of decline in MVC torque, whereas the Likert (RMSE= 0.266) and RPE (RMSE= 0.268) scales were the best predictors of electromyographic amplitude. Although the Likert (RMSE = 7.6) and Rating of Fatigue (RMSE = 7.6) scales were the best predictors of voluntary muscle activation of any scale, the number of contractions performed during the protocol was a better predictor (RMSE = 7.3). The ability of the scales to predict TMS measures of performance fatigability were in general similar. Interestingly, the number of contractions performed was a better predictor of TMS measures than the scales themselves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Marzouk
- Neural Control of Movement LaboratoryMenzies Health Institute QueenslandGriffith UniversityGold CoastQueenslandAustralia
| | - Daniel J. McKeown
- Neural Control of Movement LaboratoryMenzies Health Institute QueenslandGriffith UniversityGold CoastQueenslandAustralia
| | - David N. Borg
- The Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation and Centre for Healthcare Transformation, School of Public Health and Social WorkQueensland University of TechnologyBrisbaneQueenslandAustralia
| | - Jonathon Headrick
- Neural Control of Movement LaboratoryMenzies Health Institute QueenslandGriffith UniversityGold CoastQueenslandAustralia
| | - Justin J. Kavanagh
- Neural Control of Movement LaboratoryMenzies Health Institute QueenslandGriffith UniversityGold CoastQueenslandAustralia
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Archiza B, Leahy MG, Kipp S, Sheel AW. An integrative approach to the pulmonary physiology of exercise: when does biological sex matter? Eur J Appl Physiol 2021; 121:2377-2391. [PMID: 33903937 DOI: 10.1007/s00421-021-04690-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Historically, many studies investigating the pulmonary physiology of exercise (and biomedical research in general) were performed exclusively or predominantly with male research participants. This has led to an incomplete understanding of the pulmonary response to exercise. More recently, important sex-based differences with respect to the human respiratory system have been identified. The purpose of this review is to summarize current findings related to sex-based differences in the pulmonary physiology of exercise. To that end, we will discuss how morphological sex-based differences of the respiratory system affect the respiratory response to exercise. Moreover, we will discuss sex-based differences of the physiological integrative responses to exercise, and how all these differences can influence the regulation of breathing. We end with a brief discussion of pregnancy and menopause and the accompanying ventilatory changes observed during exercise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Archiza
- School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, 2553 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 0B8, Canada.
| | - Michael G Leahy
- School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, 2553 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 0B8, Canada
| | - Shalaya Kipp
- School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, 2553 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 0B8, Canada
| | - A William Sheel
- School of Kinesiology, University of British Columbia, 2553 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 0B8, Canada
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3
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Yacyshyn AF, McNeil CJ. The Sexes Do Not Differ for Neural Responses to Submaximal Elbow Extensor Fatigue. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2021; 52:1992-2001. [PMID: 32195769 DOI: 10.1249/mss.0000000000002342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate possible sex-related differences in group III/IV muscle afferent feedback with isometric fatigue, we aimed to assess the effect of a sustained submaximal elbow extensor contraction on motoneuronal excitability (cervicomedullary motor evoked potential [CMEP]) and voluntary activation (VA). METHODS Twenty-four participants (12 females) performed a 15-min contraction at the level of EMG activity recorded at 15% of maximal torque. Each minute, CMEP were elicited by cervicomedullary stimulation with and without conditioning transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) delivered 100 ms earlier. Unconditioned and conditioned motor evoked potentials (MEP) in response to TMS were also recorded to assess motor cortical excitability. CMEP and MEP were normalized for changes in downstream excitability and expressed as percentage of their prefatigue (control) values. Postfatigue, VA was calculated from superimposed and resting tetani evoked by stimulation over triceps brachii. RESULTS Males were twice as strong as females, but the sexes did not differ for any variable during the fatigue protocol. On a 0-10 scale, RPE increased from ~2.5 to 9. The unconditioned CMEP did not change, whereas the conditioned CMEP was reduced by ~50%. By contrast, the unconditioned and conditioned MEP increased to ~200% and ~320% of the control values, respectively. At task termination, maximal torque was reduced ~40%, and VA was ~80%, down from a prefatigue value of ~96%. CONCLUSIONS Results support the scant published data on the elbow extensors and indicate no sex-related differences for isometric fatigue of this muscle group. The motoneuronal and VA data suggest that metabolite buildup and group III/IV muscle afferent activity were similar for females and males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra F Yacyshyn
- Centre for Heart, Lung and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada
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Yacyshyn AF, McNeil CJ. Electrically evoked force loss of the knee extensors is equivalent for young and old females and males. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2020; 45:1270-1276. [DOI: 10.1139/apnm-2020-0199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Data are scant on sex-related differences for electrically evoked contractions, which assess intrinsic contractile properties while limiting spinal and supraspinal adaptations to mitigate fatigue. Furthermore, the few studies that exist use stimulus frequencies considerably higher than the natural motor unit discharge rate for the target force. The purpose of this study was to compare force loss to electrically evoked contractions at a physiological stimulus frequency among young females (n = 12), young males (n = 12), old females (n = 11), and old males (n = 11). The quadriceps of the dominant leg were fatigued by 3 min of intermittent transcutaneous muscle belly stimulation (15 Hz stimulus train to initially evoke 25% of maximal voluntary force). Impairment of tetanic contractile impulse (area under the curve) did not differ between sexes for young or old adults or between age groups, with a pooled value of 55.2% ± 12.4% control at the end of fatigue. These data contrast with previous findings at 30 Hz, when the quadriceps of females had greater fatigue resistance than males for young and old adults. The present results highlight the impact stimulus frequency has on intrinsic fatigability of muscle; the findings have implications for future fatigue paradigms and treatment approaches when utilizing electrical stimulation for rehabilitation. Novelty Fatigue was not different between sexes with a stimulation frequency comparable to discharge rates during voluntary contractions. These results highlight that stimulus frequency not only influences fatigue development but also between-group differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra F. Yacyshyn
- Centre for Heart, Lung and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, The University of British Columbia – Okanagan Campus, 1147 Research Road, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada
- Centre for Heart, Lung and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, The University of British Columbia – Okanagan Campus, 1147 Research Road, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Chris J. McNeil
- Centre for Heart, Lung and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, The University of British Columbia – Okanagan Campus, 1147 Research Road, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada
- Centre for Heart, Lung and Vascular Health, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, The University of British Columbia – Okanagan Campus, 1147 Research Road, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada
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Vernillo G, Temesi J, Martin M, Krüger RL, Millet GY. Spinal contribution to neuromuscular recovery differs between elbow-flexor and knee-extensor muscles after a maximal sustained fatiguing task. J Neurophysiol 2020; 124:763-773. [PMID: 32755359 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00273.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Data from studies of elbow-flexor (EF) or knee-extensor (KE) muscles suggest that a fatigue-related decrease in motoneuron excitability only occurs in EF. It is unknown how motoneuron excitability changes after sustained fatiguing maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVICs) in EF and KE in the same participants. In two sessions, eight healthy men performed a 2-min MVIC of EF or KE to induce fatigue with brief MVICs before and six times after the 2-min MVIC. Electromyographic responses elicited by corticospinal tract stimulation at the transmastoid [cervicomedullary motor-evoked potential (CMEP)] or thoracic [thoracic motor-evoked potential (TMEP)] level were recorded from EF and KE, respectively. To account for muscle excitability, CMEPs and TMEPs were normalized to maximal M-wave (Mmax) elicited by peripheral nerve stimulation during each brief MVIC. Immediately after the 2-min MVIC, biceps brachii and brachioradialis CMEP/Mmax were 88% (SD 11%) (P = 0.026) and 87% (SD 12%) (P = 0.029) of pre-MVIC (PRE) values, respectively, and remained lower than PRE after 5 s of recovery [91% (SD 8%), P = 0.036 and 87% (SD 13%), P = 0.046, respectively]. No subsequent time points differed from PRE (all P ≥ 0.253). TMEP/Mmax for rectus femoris and vastus lateralis were not different from PRE at any time during the recovery period (all P > 0.050). A different recovery pattern in motoneuron excitability occurred in EF as it recovered by 60 s whereas KE motoneurons were unaffected by the fatiguing task. The present findings may contribute to better understand muscle-specific neurophysiological differences in spinal excitability.NEW & NOTEWORTHY By comparing the changes in motoneuron excitability in elbow-flexor and knee-extensor muscles after sustained fatiguing maximal voluntary contractions, this study shows that motoneuron recovery behavior depends on the muscle performing the exercise. A different recovery pattern in motoneuron excitability occurs in elbow flexors as it recovered by 60 s whereas knee extensors were unaffected by fatigue. This finding can help to increase understanding of the effect of a fatigue and subsequent recovery on neural processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianluca Vernillo
- Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.,Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - John Temesi
- Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.,Faculty of Health & Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Matthieu Martin
- Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Renata L Krüger
- Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Guillaume Y Millet
- Human Performance Laboratory, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.,Univ Lyon, UJM-Saint-Etienne, Inter-university Laboratory of Human Movement Biology, EA 7424, F-42023, Saint-Etienne, France.,Institut Universitaire de France (IUF)
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Carr JC, Ye X. Strength and Electromyographic Responses of Upper and Lower Limbs During Maximal Intermittent Contractions in Males and Females. J Strength Cond Res 2020; 36:2403-2409. [PMID: 32304518 DOI: 10.1519/jsc.0000000000003580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Carr, JC and Ye, X. Strength and electromyographic responses of upper and lower limbs during maximal intermittent contractions in males and females. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2020-This study examined the strength and electromyographic (EMG) responses of upper vs. lower limb muscles during intermittent maximal contractions in both sexes. Twenty subjects (n = 7 women) performed a fatiguing protocol (6, 30-second intermittent maximal isometric contractions with a 50% duty cycle) with either the elbow flexors or the knee extensors on separate visits. Bipolar surface EMG signals were detected from the biceps brachii and vastus lateralis muscles (n = 5 women retained). Women maintained more of their maximal force than men (Δforce: men vs. women = -55.0 ± 12.8% vs. -43.3 ± 9.9%, p = 0.042). Although force loss was similar between the elbow flexors and knee extensors, the EMG responses showed greater reductions for the biceps brachii than those for the vastus lateralis (Δamplitude: biceps brachii vs. vastus lateralis: -32.0 ± 22.3% vs. -18.9 ± 28.9%; Δmedian frequency: biceps brachii vs. vastus lateralis: -31.1 ± 14.5% vs. -10.3 ± 17.0%). During a series of maximal intermittent isometric contractions with 30 seconds of recovery between work bouts, women are more fatigue resistant than men. In addition, the greater electrophysiological fatigue exhibited by the biceps brachii than that by the vastus lateralis suggests that high-intensity contractions involving elbow flexion will have a greater rate of fatigue progression than those involving knee extension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua C Carr
- Department of Kinesiology and Outdoor Recreation, Southern Utah University, Cedar City, Utah
| | - Xin Ye
- Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, The University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi
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Sustained Maximal Voluntary Contractions Elicit Different Neurophysiological Responses in Upper- and Lower-Limb Muscles in Men. Neuroscience 2019; 422:88-98. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2019.09.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Revised: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Hureau TJ, Weavil JC, Thurston TS, Wan HY, Gifford JR, Jessop JE, Buys MJ, Richardson RS, Amann M. Pharmacological attenuation of group III/IV muscle afferents improves endurance performance when oxygen delivery to locomotor muscles is preserved. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2019; 127:1257-1266. [PMID: 31513446 DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00490.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
We sought to investigate the role of group III/IV muscle afferents in limiting endurance exercise performance, independently of their role in optimizing locomotor muscle O2 delivery. While breathing 100% O2 to ensure a similar arterial O2 content ([Formula: see text]) in both trials, eight male cyclists performed 5-km time trials under control conditions (HCTRL) and with lumbar intrathecal fentanyl (HFENT) impairing neural feedback from the lower limbs. After each time trial, common femoral artery blood flow (FBF) was quantified (Doppler ultrasound) during constant-load cycling performed at the average power of the preceding time trial. The assessment of end-tidal gases, hemoglobin content and saturation, and FBF facilitated the calculation of leg O2 delivery. Locomotor muscle activation during cycling was estimated from vastus lateralis EMG. With electrical femoral nerve stimulation, peripheral and central fatigue were quantified by pre- to postexercise decreases in quadriceps twitch torque (ΔQtw) and voluntary activation (ΔVA), respectively. FBF (~16 mL·min-1·W-1; P = 0.6), [Formula: see text] (~24 mL O2/dL; P = 0.9), and leg O2 delivery (~0.38 mL O2·min-1·W-1; P = 0.9) were not different during HCTRL and HFENT. Mean power output and time to completion were significantly improved by 9% (~310 W vs. ~288 W) and 3% (~479 s vs. ~463 s), respectively, during HFENT compared with HCTRL. Quadriceps muscle activation was 9 ± 7% higher during HFENT compared with HCTRL (P < 0.05). ΔQtw was significantly greater in HFENT compared with HCTRL (54 ± 8% vs. 39 ± 9%), whereas ΔVA was not different (~5%; P = 0.3) in both trials. These findings reveal that group III/IV muscle afferent feedback limits whole body endurance exercise performance and peripheral fatigue by restricting neural activation of locomotor muscle.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Group III/IV muscle afferent feedback facilitates endurance performance by optimizing locomotor muscle O2 delivery but also limits performance by restricting neural drive to locomotor muscle. To isolate the performance-limiting effect of these sensory neurons, we pharmacologically attenuated their central projection during a cycling time trial while controlling for locomotor muscle O2 delivery. With no difference in leg O2 delivery, afferent blockade attenuated the centrally mediated restriction in motoneuronal output and improved cycling performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Hureau
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Department of Medicine and EA 3072: Mitochondria, Oxidative Stress and Muscular Protection Laboratory, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Joshua C Weavil
- Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Salt Lake City Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Taylor S Thurston
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Hsuan-Yu Wan
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Jayson R Gifford
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Jacob E Jessop
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Michael J Buys
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Russell S Richardson
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Salt Lake City Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Markus Amann
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Salt Lake City Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.,Department of Anesthesiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
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Kennefick M, Burma JS, van Donkelaar P, McNeil CJ. Corticospinal excitability is enhanced while preparing for complex movements. Exp Brain Res 2019; 237:829-837. [DOI: 10.1007/s00221-018-05464-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 12/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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10
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Kalmar JM. On task: Considerations and future directions for studies of corticospinal excitability in exercise neuroscience and related disciplines. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2018; 43:1113-1121. [DOI: 10.1139/apnm-2018-0123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Over the last few decades, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) has emerged as a conventional laboratory technique in human neurophysiological research. Exercise neuroscientists have used TMS to study central nervous system contributions to fatigue, training, and performance in health, injury, and disease. In such studies, corticospinal excitability is often assessed at rest or during simple isometric tasks with the implication that the results may be extrapolated to more functional and complex movement outside of the laboratory. However, the neural mechanisms that influence corticospinal excitability are both state- and task-dependent. Furthermore, there are many sites of modulation along the pathway from the motor cortex to the muscle; a fact that is somewhat obscured by the all-encompassing and poorly defined term “corticospinal excitability”. Therefore, the tasks we use to assess corticospinal excitability and the conclusions that we draw from such a global measure of the motor pathway must be taken into consideration. The overall objective of this review is to highlight the task-dependent nature of corticospinal excitability and the tools used to assess modulation at cortical and spinal sites of modulation. By weighing the advantages and constraints of conventional approaches to studying corticospinal excitability, and considering some new and novel approaches, we will continue to advance our understanding of the neural control of movement during exercise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayne M. Kalmar
- Wilfrid Laurier University, Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5, Canada
- Wilfrid Laurier University, Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5, Canada
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