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Introduction: The aim was to compare the fatiguing effects induced by continuous (CONT) and intermittent (INT) tasks of an identical duration by equating the force-time integral., Method: ː Fourteen men performed two sequences (4 blocks of 378s) of contractions (CONT or INT) of the quadriceps femoris. The CONT contraction of 378s corresponded to 10% of the maximum voluntary muscle contraction (MVC). The INT 3s contractions corresponded to 70% of the MVC, separated by rest periods of 18s (a 21s cycle) and repeated 18 times (21s x 18) for 378s. Hence, the force-time integral was identical for the both contraction tasks (378s × 10% MVC = 37.8; 3s x 18 repetitions x 70% MVC = 37.8)., Results: ː The MVC and central activation ratio were measured before, during and after the sequence of muscle contractions. For a same force-time integral done during an identical duration of activity, the CONT contractions engendered earlier and greater decrease in motor output and voluntary activation than the INT contractions., Conclusion: Continuous muscle actions are more fatiguing than intermittent muscle actions. They could therefore be relevant to develop resistance to muscle fatigue but would be not suitable for undertaking long or sustained workloads., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Voluntary and stimulated contractions are commonly used in sports training and rehabilitation, and it is well known that both these kinds of contractions generate central fatigue. However, to date, there is a lack of research on the comparison of the mechanisms by which these 2 exercises induce central disturbances. Central fatigue can be characterized by central activation failure during maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). Superimposition of an electrical stimulation onto MVC has been used to detect central activation failure. Completeness of activation has been quantified by the central activation ratio (CAR) = MVC/(MVC + stimulated force). The aim was not only to evaluate the CAR immediately after fatiguing voluntary (VOL) and stimulated (STIM) contractions but also to compare recovery duration over different time periods (prefatigue: PRE condition; immediate postfatigue: POST condition; after a 5-minute recovery: POST 5 condition; after a 30-minute recovery: POST 30 condition) (n = 18). Results showed that in the POST condition, the CAR is more affected for the VOL contractions than for the STIM contractions (p < 0.001). The CAR was affected for the STIM contractions only in the POST 5 condition (p < 0.05). In the POST 30 condition, the CAR was incomplete for the STIM contractions, whereas it was complete for the VOL contractions (p < 0.01). In conclusion, the VOL contractions alter the CAR more than the STIM contractions immediately after their completion. However, the effects of the STIM contractions on the CAR are delayed and prolonged.

The aim of this work was to compare the effects of fatigue of the quadriceps femoris after fatiguing voluntary contractions (VOL) and fatiguing neuromuscular electrical stimulation (ES) on bipedal postural control. Nineteen active male subjects (22.2 ± 1.7 years) completed these two fatiguing exercises. Isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and postural control were recorded using an ergometer and a force platform that registered the center of foot pressure (COP). We analyzed the COP surface, the mean COP velocity and the spectral power density given by the wavelet transform. Recordings were performed before (PRE condition) and after the completion of each fatiguing task (immediately POST condition, after a 5 min recovery POST 5 condition). In POST condition, the ES exercise affected MVC more than the VOL exercise. However, bipedal postural control was similarly deteriorated for both exercises. In POST 5 condition, for both fatiguing exercises, muscle strength and postural control did not recover their initial level. These results suggest that the postural control disturbance could not be distinguished for the two fatiguing exercises in the bipedal stance. In addition, the recovery speeds of postural control and muscle strength abilities did not differ for the ES exercise and the VOL exercise.

One session of sustained unilateral voluntary muscular contractions increases central fatigue and induces a cross-over of fatigue of homologous contralateral muscles. It is not known, however, how this cross-transfer affects contralateral unipedal postural control. Moreover, contralateral neurophysiological effects differ between voluntary muscular contractions and electrically stimulated contractions. The aims of this study were thus to examine the effects of muscle fatigue on contralateral unipedal postural control and to compare the effects of stimulated and voluntary contractions. Fifteen subjects took part in the protocol. Fatigue of the ipsilateral quadriceps femoris was generated either by neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) or by isometric voluntary muscular contraction (VOL). Postural control on the contralateral limb was measured before (PRE condition) and after the completion of the two fatiguing exercises (POST condition) using a force platform. We analyzed body sway area and the spectral power density given by the wavelet transform. In POST condition, postural control recorded in the unipedal stance on the contralateral limb was disturbed after NMES and VOL fatiguing exercises. In addition, postural control was similarly disturbed for both exercises. These results suggest that cross-over fatigue is able to disturb postural control after both stimulated and voluntary contractions., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd and the Japan Neuroscience Society. All rights reserved.)

Abstract: Muscle fatigue affects muscle strength and postural control. However, it is not known whether impaired postural control after fatiguing muscular exercise depends on the nature of the muscle contraction. To answer this question, the present study analyzes changes in postural control after two fatiguing exercises of equal duration and intensity but that induced different magnitudes of strength loss. The effects of fatiguing contractions of the femoris quadriceps were compared for voluntary muscular contraction (VOL) and neuromuscular electrical stimulation (ES) on muscle strength and postural control. Seventeen subjects completed these two fatiguing exercises. Maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and postural control were recorded using an isokinetic dynamometer and a force platform that recorded the center of foot pressure. Recordings were performed before and after the completion of both fatiguing tasks. Results indicate that, after a fatiguing exercise, the ES exercise affected MVC more than the VOL exercise. Inversely, postural control was disturbed more after VOL exercise than after ES exercise. In conclusion, postural control disturbance is influenced by the nature of the muscular contraction (voluntary vs. non-voluntary) and the type of the motor unit solicited (tonic vs. phasic) rather than by the magnitude of strength loss. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]