Change in contractile properties of human muscle in relationship to the loss of power and slowing of relaxation seen with fatigue

David Jones, CJ de Ruiter, A de Haan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

52 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Slow relaxation from an isometric contraction is characteristic of acutely fatigued muscle and is associated with a decrease in the maximum velocity of unloaded shortening (V(max)) and both these phenomena might be due to a decreased rate of cross bridge detachment. We have compared the change in relaxation rate with that of various parameters of the force-velocity relationship over the course of an ischaemic series of fatiguing contractions and subsequent recovery using the human adductor pollicis muscle working in vivo at approximately 37 degrees C in nine healthy young subjects. Maximal isometric force (F(0)) decreased from 91.0 +/- 1.9 to 58.3 +/- 3.5 N (mean +/- s.e.m.). Maximum power decreased from 53.6 +/- 4.0 to 17.7 +/- 1.2 (arbitrary units) while relaxation rate declined from -10.3 +/- 0.38 to -2.56 +/- 0.29 s(-1). V(max) showed a smaller relative change from 673 +/- 20 to 560 +/- 46 deg s(-1) and with a time course that differed markedly from that of slowing of relaxation, showing very little change until late in the series of contractions. Curvature of the force-velocity relationship increased (a/F(0) decreasing from 0.22 +/- 0.02 to 0.11 +/- 0.02) with fatigue and with a time course that was similar to that of the loss of power and the slowing of relaxation. It is concluded that for human muscle working at a normal physiological temperature the change in curvature of the force-velocity relationship with fatigue is a major cause of loss of power and may share a common underlying mechanism with the slowing of relaxation from an isometric contraction.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)913-922
Number of pages10
JournalThe Journal of Physiology
Volume576
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 21 Sept 2006

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