Neuromuscular fatigue after maximal stretch-shortening cycle exercise

Abstract

Strojnik, V., and P. V. Komi. Neuromuscular fatigue after maximal stretch-shortening cycle exercise. J. Appl. Physiol. 84(1): 344–350, 1998.—To examine some possible sites of fatigue during short-lasting maximally intensive stretch-shortening cycle exercise, drop jumps on an inclined sledge apparatus were analyzed. Twelve healthy volunteers performed jumps until they were unable to maintain jumping height >90% of their maximum. After the workout, the increases in the blood lactate concentration and serum creatine kinase activation were statistically significant ( P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively) but rather small in physiological terms. The major changes after the workout were as follows: the single twitch was characterized by smaller peak torque ( P < 0.05) and shorter time to peak ( P < 0.05) and half-relaxation time ( P < 0.01). The double-twitch torque remained at the same level ( P > 0.05), but with a steeper maximal slope of torque rise ( P < 0.05); during 20- and 100-Hz stimulation the torque declined (both P < 0.01) and the maximal voluntary torque changed nonsignificantly but with a smaller maximal slope of torque rise ( P < 0.01) and a higher activation level ( P < 0.05), accompanied by an increased electromyogram amplitude. These findings indicate that the muscle response after the short-lasting consecutive maximum jumps on the sledge apparatus may involve two distinct mechanisms acting in opposite directions: 1) The contractile mechanism seems to be potentiated through a shorter Ca2+ transient and faster cross-bridge cycling, as implied by twitch changes. 2) High-frequency action potential propagation shows an impairment, which is suggested as the possible dominant reason for fatigue in exercise of this type.