Neuromuscular fatigue is greater following highly variable versus constant intensity endurance cycling

Theurel, Jean; Lepers, Romuald

doi:10.1007/s00421-008-0738-2

Cited by 39 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…41 In addition, the freely chosen cadence has been reported to be on average 9 rpm higher during cycling at variable power output compared with constant power output at a similar average power output of 70% of maximal aerobic power output. 42 A decrease in cadence with cycling duration has also been observed and is of unknown cause. [44][45][46][47][48] Perhaps the decrease in cadence has to do with fatigue of the neural networks constituting the central pattern generators or perhaps changed output from these.…”

Section: Draftingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Affecting Cadence Choice During Submaximal Cycling and Cadence Influence on Performance

Hansen

Smith²

2009

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance

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Cadence choice during cycling has been of considerable interest among cyclists, coaches, and researchers for nearly 100 years. The present review examines and summarizes the current knowledge of factors affecting the freely chosen cadence during submaximal cycling and of the influence of cadence choice on performance. In addition, suggestions for future research are given along with scientifically based, practical recommendations for those involved in cycling. Within the past 10 years, a number of papers have been published that have brought novel insight into the subject. For example, under the influence of spinal central pattern generators, a robust innate voluntary motor rhythm has been suggested as the primary basis for freely chosen cadence in cycling. This might clarify the cadence paradox in which the freely chosen cadence during low-to-moderate submaximal cycling is considerably higher and thereby less economical than the energetically optimal cadence. A number of factors, including age, power output, and road gradient, have been shown to affect the choice of cadence to some extent. During high-intensity cycling, close to the maximal aerobic power output, cyclists choose an energetically economical cadence that is also favorable for performance. In contrast, the choice of a relatively high cadence during cycling at low-to-moderate intensity is uneconomical and could compromise performance during prolonged cycling. Keywords: pedaling, pedal rate, rhythmic motor behaviorThe choice of cadence during cycling has been a subject of intensive curiosity and debate for around a hundred years among cyclists, coaches, researchers, and others involved with the activity of cycling. And it still is being debated-perhaps more than ever. Multiple circumstances contributed to the development of such considerable interest and the following factors are merely two of many potential examples. First, cycling was at the beginning of the twentieth century one of the first professional sports, with great focus on performance as a natural consequence. Second, research within exercise physiology had at that time already revealed the fact that excessive energy expenditure could cause early exhaustion during prolonged submaximal exercise. As early as in 1913, Benedict and CathcartThe authors are with the

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Section: Draftingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Affecting Cadence Choice During Submaximal Cycling and Cadence Influence on Performance

Hansen

Smith²

2009

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance

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“…Quantification of neuromuscular fatigue in various muscle groups after prolonged running and cycling exercises lasting 20 min to more thanLepers (2008) 33 min cycling with variations in power output (ergometer) Knee extensors -MVC maximal voluntary contraction, Pt peak twitch, Pd peak doublet, VL vastus lateralis, VM vastus medialis, NS not significant, -not measured…”

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confidence: 99%

Muscle fatigue: from observations in humans to underlying mechanisms studied in intact single muscle fibres

et al. 2010

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Prolonged dynamic exercise and sustained isometric contractions induce muscle fatigue, as manifested by decreased performance and a reduction in the maximum voluntary contraction force. Studies with non-invasive measurements in exercising humans show that mechanisms located beyond the sarcolemma are important in the fatigue process. In this review, we describe probable cellular mechanisms underlying fatigue-induced changes in excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling occurring in human muscle fibres during strenuous exercise. We use fatigue-induced changes observed in intact single muscle fibres, where force and cellular Ca(2+) handling can be directly measured, to explain changes in E-C coupling observed in human muscle during exercise.

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“…These measures were not directly investigated in this study; however, it is probable that the higher intensity bout caused greater disruption to this mechanism. Alterations in SR functioning have been shown to relate to force development (Tupling et al 2000) and this was possibly demonstrated at the end of the fatigue test following high intensity exercise, with RTD and RR further decreased and remaining significantly lower than baseline and that following low intensity exercise. The significant level of lactate accumulation reported following the high intensity bout confirms a higher glycolytic demand placed on the muscle during high intensity work.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…Whilst it is given that exercise intensity is an important parameter determining training response (Green et al 2004), to date the effect of exercise intensity on muscle contractile characteristics has not been clearly investigated Theurel and Lepers 2008). Specifically, to date no work has been conducted to investigate how muscle contractile characteristics respond to high and low intensity exercise, of the same average intensity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Alterations in peripheral muscle contractile characteristics following high and low intensity bouts of exercise

et al. 2011

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The aim of this study was to monitor muscle contractile performance in vivo, using an electrical stimulation protocol, immediately following an acute high and low intensity exercise session conducted at the same average intensity performed on a cycle ergometer. Eighteen healthy males (25.1 ± 4.5 years, 81.6 ± 9.8 kg, 1.83 ± 0.06 m; mean ± SD) participated in the study. On two occasions, separated by 1 week, subjects completed a high and low intensity exercise session in a random order on a cycle ergometer, performing equal total work in each. At the end of each test, a muscle performance test using electrical stimulation was performed within 120 s. Post-exercise muscle data were compared to the subjects' rested muscle. We found a reduction in muscle contractile performance following both high and low intensity exercise protocols but a greater reduction in maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) (P < 0.01), rate of torque development (RTD) (P < 0.001), rate of relaxation (RR(½)), (P < 0.001) the 60 s slope of the fatigue protocol (P < 0.01) and torque frequency response (P < 0.05) following the high intensity bout. Importantly muscle performance remained reduced 1 h following high intensity exercise but was recovered following low intensity exercise. Muscle function was significantly reduced following higher intensity intermittent exercise in comparison to lower intensity exercise even when the average overall intensity was the same. This study is the first to demonstrate the sensitivity of muscle contractile characteristics to different exercise intensities and the impact of higher intensity bursts on muscle performance.

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Neuromuscular fatigue is greater following highly variable versus constant intensity endurance cycling

Cited by 39 publications

References 40 publications

Factors Affecting Cadence Choice During Submaximal Cycling and Cadence Influence on Performance

Factors Affecting Cadence Choice During Submaximal Cycling and Cadence Influence on Performance

Muscle fatigue: from observations in humans to underlying mechanisms studied in intact single muscle fibres

Alterations in peripheral muscle contractile characteristics following high and low intensity bouts of exercise

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