Erschienen in:
27.09.2019 | Original Article
Maturation-related changes in the development and etiology of neuromuscular fatigue
verfasst von:
Enzo Piponnier, Vincent Martin, Pierre Bourdier, Brice Biancarelli, Virginie Kluka, Sebastian Garcia-Vicencio, Anne-Gaëlle Jegu, Charlotte Cardenoux, Cédric Morio, Emmanuel Coudeyre, Sébastien Ratel
Erschienen in:
European Journal of Applied Physiology
|
Ausgabe 11-12/2019
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Abstract
Purpose
The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of maturation on the etiology of neuromuscular fatigue induced by repeated maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC).
Methods
Nine prepubertal boys (9.9 ± 1.3 years), eight male adolescents (13.6 ± 1.3 years) and eleven men (23.4 ± 3.0 years) performed a series of repeated isometric MVICs of the knee extensors until the MVIC torque reached 60% of its initial value. Magnetic stimulations were delivered to the femoral nerve every five MVICs to follow the course of voluntary activation level (VA) and the potentiated twitch torque (Qtwpot).
Results
Task failure was reached after 52.9 ± 12.7, 42.6 ± 12.5, and 26.6 ± 6.3 repetitions in boys, adolescents and men, respectively. VA remained unchanged in men whereas it decreased significantly and similarly in boys and adolescents (p < 0.001). In contrast, Qtwpot remained unchanged in boys and decreased significantly less in adolescents than adults (p < 0.05).
Conclusions
Children and adolescents experience less peripheral and more central fatigue than adults. However, adolescents experience more peripheral fatigue than children for a comparable amount of central fatigue. This finding supports the idea that the tolerance of the central nervous system to peripheral fatigue could increase during maturation.