AJP: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 2014
Greater peripheral quadriceps fatigue at the voluntary termination of single-leg knee-extensor ex... more Greater peripheral quadriceps fatigue at the voluntary termination of single-leg knee-extensor exercise (KE), compared with whole-body cycling, has been attributed to confining group III and IV skeletal muscle afferent feedback to a small muscle mass, enabling the central nervous system (CNS) to tolerate greater peripheral fatigue. However, as task specificity and vastly differing systemic challenges may have complicated this interpretation, eight males were studied during constant workload trials to exhaustion at 85% of peak workload during single-leg and double-leg KE. It was hypothesized that because of the smaller muscle mass engaged during single-leg KE, a greater magnitude of peripheral quadriceps fatigue would be present at exhaustion. Vastus lateralis integrated electromyogram (iEMG) signal relative to the first minute of exercise, preexercise to postexercise maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) of the quadriceps, and twitch-force evoked by supramaximal magnetic femoral nerve stimulation (Qtw,pot) quantified peripheral quadriceps fatigue. Trials performed with single-leg KE (8.1 ± 1.2 min; 45 ± 4 W) resulted in significantly greater peripheral quadriceps fatigue than double-leg KE (10 ± 1.3 min; 83 ± 7 W), as documented by changes in the iEMG signal (147 ± 24 vs. 85 ± 13%), MVC (-25 ± 3 vs. -12 ± 3%), and Qtw,pot (-44 ± 6 vs. -33 ± 7%), for single-leg and double-leg KE, respectively. Therefore, avoiding concerns over task specificity and cardiorespiratory limitations, this study reveals that a reduction in muscle mass permits the development of greater peripheral muscle fatigue and supports the concept that the CNS tolerates a greater magnitude of peripheral fatigue when the source of group III/IV afferent feedback is limited to a small muscle mass.
ABSTRACT To parse out the impact of advanced ageing and disuse on skeletal muscle function, we ut... more ABSTRACT To parse out the impact of advanced ageing and disuse on skeletal muscle function, we utilized both in vivo and in vitro techniques to comprehensively assess upper- and lower-limb muscle contractile properties in 8 young (YG; 25±6yrs) and 8 oldest-old mobile (OM; 87±5yrs) and 8 immobile (OI; 88±4yrs) women. In vivo, maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), electrically evoked resting twitch force (RT), and physiological cross sectional area (PCSA) of the quadriceps and elbow flexors was assessed. Muscle biopsies of the vastus lateralis and biceps brachii facilitated the in vitro assessment of single fibre specific tension (Po). In vivo, compared to the young, both the OM and OI exhibited a more pronounced loss of MVC in the lower-limb (OM (-60%) and OI (-75%)) than the upper-limb (OM=-51%; OI=-47%). Taking into account the reduction in muscle PCSA (OM=-10%; OI=-18%), only evident in the lower-limb, by calculating voluntary muscle specific force, the lower-limb of the OI (-40%) was more compromised than the OM (-13%). However, in vivo, RT in both upper- and lower-limbs (~9.8 N∙m∙cm(-2) ) and Po (~123 mN∙mm(-2) ), assessed in vitro, implies preserved intrinsic contractile function in all muscles of the oldest-old and were well correlated (r=0.81). These findings suggest that in the oldest-old neither advanced ageing nor disuse, per se, impact intrinsic skeletal muscle function, as assessed in vitro. However, in vivo, muscle function is attenuated by age and exacerbated by disuse, implicating factors other than skeletal muscle, such as neuromuscular control, in this diminution of function. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
AJP: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 2014
Greater peripheral quadriceps fatigue at the voluntary termination of single-leg knee-extensor ex... more Greater peripheral quadriceps fatigue at the voluntary termination of single-leg knee-extensor exercise (KE), compared with whole-body cycling, has been attributed to confining group III and IV skeletal muscle afferent feedback to a small muscle mass, enabling the central nervous system (CNS) to tolerate greater peripheral fatigue. However, as task specificity and vastly differing systemic challenges may have complicated this interpretation, eight males were studied during constant workload trials to exhaustion at 85% of peak workload during single-leg and double-leg KE. It was hypothesized that because of the smaller muscle mass engaged during single-leg KE, a greater magnitude of peripheral quadriceps fatigue would be present at exhaustion. Vastus lateralis integrated electromyogram (iEMG) signal relative to the first minute of exercise, preexercise to postexercise maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) of the quadriceps, and twitch-force evoked by supramaximal magnetic femoral nerve stimulation (Qtw,pot) quantified peripheral quadriceps fatigue. Trials performed with single-leg KE (8.1 ± 1.2 min; 45 ± 4 W) resulted in significantly greater peripheral quadriceps fatigue than double-leg KE (10 ± 1.3 min; 83 ± 7 W), as documented by changes in the iEMG signal (147 ± 24 vs. 85 ± 13%), MVC (-25 ± 3 vs. -12 ± 3%), and Qtw,pot (-44 ± 6 vs. -33 ± 7%), for single-leg and double-leg KE, respectively. Therefore, avoiding concerns over task specificity and cardiorespiratory limitations, this study reveals that a reduction in muscle mass permits the development of greater peripheral muscle fatigue and supports the concept that the CNS tolerates a greater magnitude of peripheral fatigue when the source of group III/IV afferent feedback is limited to a small muscle mass.
ABSTRACT To parse out the impact of advanced ageing and disuse on skeletal muscle function, we ut... more ABSTRACT To parse out the impact of advanced ageing and disuse on skeletal muscle function, we utilized both in vivo and in vitro techniques to comprehensively assess upper- and lower-limb muscle contractile properties in 8 young (YG; 25±6yrs) and 8 oldest-old mobile (OM; 87±5yrs) and 8 immobile (OI; 88±4yrs) women. In vivo, maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), electrically evoked resting twitch force (RT), and physiological cross sectional area (PCSA) of the quadriceps and elbow flexors was assessed. Muscle biopsies of the vastus lateralis and biceps brachii facilitated the in vitro assessment of single fibre specific tension (Po). In vivo, compared to the young, both the OM and OI exhibited a more pronounced loss of MVC in the lower-limb (OM (-60%) and OI (-75%)) than the upper-limb (OM=-51%; OI=-47%). Taking into account the reduction in muscle PCSA (OM=-10%; OI=-18%), only evident in the lower-limb, by calculating voluntary muscle specific force, the lower-limb of the OI (-40%) was more compromised than the OM (-13%). However, in vivo, RT in both upper- and lower-limbs (~9.8 N∙m∙cm(-2) ) and Po (~123 mN∙mm(-2) ), assessed in vitro, implies preserved intrinsic contractile function in all muscles of the oldest-old and were well correlated (r=0.81). These findings suggest that in the oldest-old neither advanced ageing nor disuse, per se, impact intrinsic skeletal muscle function, as assessed in vitro. However, in vivo, muscle function is attenuated by age and exacerbated by disuse, implicating factors other than skeletal muscle, such as neuromuscular control, in this diminution of function. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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