1
|
Yang Y, Feng Z, Luo YH, Chen JM, Zhang Y, Liao YJ, Jiang H, Long Y, Wei B. Exercise-Induced Central Fatigue: Biomarkers, and Non-Medicinal Interventions. Aging Dis 2024:AD.2024.0567. [PMID: 39012671 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2024.0567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Fatigue, commonly experienced in daily life, is a feeling of extreme tiredness, shortage or lack of energy, exhaustion, and difficulty in performing voluntary tasks. Central fatigue, defined as a progressive failure to voluntarily activate the muscle, is typically linked to moderate- or light-intensity exercise. However, in some instances, high-intensity exercise can also trigger the onset of central fatigue. Exercise-induced central fatigue often precedes the decline in physical performance in well-trained athletes. This leads to a reduction in nerve impulses, decreased neuronal excitability, and an imbalance in brain homeostasis, all of which can adversely impact an athlete's performance and the longevity of their sports career. Therefore, implementing strategies to delay the onset of exercise-induced central fatigue is vital for enhancing athletic performance and safeguarding athletes from the debilitating effects of fatigue. In this review, we discuss the structural basis, measurement methods, and biomarkers of exercise-induced central fatigue. Furthermore, we propose non-pharmacological interventions to mitigate its effects, which can potentially foster improvements in athletes' performances in a healthful and sustainable manner.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Yang
- Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Basic Medical, Department of Special Medicine, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Zhi Feng
- Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Basic Medical, Department of Special Medicine, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Yu-Hang Luo
- Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Basic Medical, Department of Special Medicine, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Jue-Miao Chen
- Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Basic Medical, Department of Special Medicine, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Basic Medical, Department of Special Medicine, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Yi-Jun Liao
- Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Basic Medical, Department of Special Medicine, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Hui Jiang
- Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Basic Medical, Department of Special Medicine, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Yinxi Long
- Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hengyang Hospital of Hunan Normal University &;amp Hengyang Central Hospital, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Bo Wei
- Institute of Translational Medicine, School of Basic Medical, Department of Special Medicine, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wilczyńska D, Walczak-Kozłowska T, Santos-Rocha R, Laskowski R, Szumilewicz A. Stress is not so bad-cortisol level and psychological functioning after 8-week HIIT program during pregnancy: a randomized controlled trial. Front Public Health 2024; 11:1307998. [PMID: 38259751 PMCID: PMC10800893 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1307998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Amid extensive pregnancy exercise research, the impact of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on pregnant women's mental health is underexplored. Despite exercise benefits, it can trigger stress responses like elevated cortisol. This study fills the gap by investigating correlations between hair cortisol levels, mental health, and HIIT effects in pregnant women. Methods We conducted a randomized control trial among 38 Caucasian women in uncomplicated, singleton pregnancy (age 31.11 ± 4.03 years, 21.82 ± 4.30 week of gestation; mean ± SD). The experimental group comprised 22 women engaged in an 8-week high-intensity interval training program (HIIT). The comparative group consisted of 16 pregnant women undergoing an 8-week educational program (EDU). Before and after the interventions, all women were evaluated using the following tools: Hair cortisol level measurements, Beck Depression Inventory - II for depressive symptoms assessment, Childbirth Attitudes Questionnaire for childbirth fear measurement, 12-item Short Form Health Survey to gage health-related quality of life, International Physical Activity Questionnaire for physical activity level estimation, and a Progressive maximal exercise test to evaluate maternal exercise capacity. Results The key finding of our study reveals that women engaged in the HIIT intervention exhibited a distinct cortisol production pattern in contrast to the EDU group practicing standard moderate intensity physical activity. In the HIIT group, there was an increase in hair cortisol levels, while the EDU group showed a notable decrease. Remarkably, HIIT stimulated cortisol production without adversely impacting fear of childbirth and psychophysical condition during pregnancy. In fact, only the HIIT group showed a significant enhancement in mental health. Conclusion No links were discovered between hair cortisol levels and the severity of depressive symptoms, psychophysical well-being, or fear of childbirth. Hence, based on our research, employing cortisol levels during pregnancy as an indicator of negative stress or depression risk appears unwarranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dominika Wilczyńska
- Department of Physical Culture, Gdańsk University of Physical Education and Sport, Gdańsk, Poland
| | | | - Rita Santos-Rocha
- ESDRM Department of Physical Activity and Health, Sport Sciences School of Rio Maior, Polytechnic Institute of Santarém, Santarém, Portugal
- CIPER Interdisciplinary Centre for the Study of Human Performance, Faculty of Human Kinetics (FMH), University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Radosław Laskowski
- Department of Physical Culture, Gdańsk University of Physical Education and Sport, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Anna Szumilewicz
- Department of Physical Culture, Gdańsk University of Physical Education and Sport, Gdańsk, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hong Y, Dong G, Li Q, Wang V, Liu M, Jiang G, Bao D, Zhou J. Effects of pre-exercise H2 inhalation on physical fatigue and related prefrontal cortex activation during and after high-intensity exercise. Front Physiol 2022; 13:988028. [PMID: 36117685 PMCID: PMC9478471 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.988028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: In this study, we examined the effects of pre-exercise H2 gas inhalation on physical fatigue (PF) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) activation during and after high-intensity cycling exercise. Methods: Twenty-four young men completed four study visits. On the first two visits, the maximum workload (Wmax) of cycling exercise of each participant was determined. On each of the other two visits, participants inhaled 20 min of either H2 gas or placebo gas after a baseline test of maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of thigh. Then participants performed cycling exercise under their maximum workload. Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), heart rate (HR) and the PFC activation by using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was measured throughout cycling exercise. The MVIC was measured again after the cycling. Results: It was observed that compared to control, after inhaling H2 gas, participants had significantly lower RPE at each workload phase (p < 0.032) and lower HR at 50% Wmax, 75% Wmax, and 100% Wmax during cycling exercise (p < 0.037); the PFC activation was also significantly increased at 75 and 100% Wmax (p < 0.011). Moreover, the H2-induced changes in PF were significantly associated with that in PFC activation, that is, those who had higher PFC activation had lower RPE at 75% Wmax (p = 0.010) and lower HR at 100% Wmax (p = 0.016), respectively. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that pre-exercise inhalation of H2 gas can alleviate PF, potentially by maintaining high PFC activation during high-intensity exercise in healthy young adults.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yinglu Hong
- School of Sport Medicine and Physical Therapy, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China
| | - Gengxin Dong
- School of Sport Medicine and Physical Therapy, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Li
- Sports Coaching College, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China
| | - Vienna Wang
- California State University, Long Beach, CA, United States
| | - Meng Liu
- Sports Coaching College, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China
| | - Guole Jiang
- Sports Coaching College, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China
- National University of Defense Technology, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Dapeng Bao
- China Institute of Sport and Health Science, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Dapeng Bao,
| | - Junhong Zhou
- Hebrew Senior Life Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| |
Collapse
|