Stressor-induced increase in muscle fatigability of young men and women is predicted by strength but not voluntary activation.
Authors
Keller-Ross-ML; Pereira-HM; Pruse-J; Yoon-T; Schlinder-Delap-B; Nielson-KA; Hunter-SK
Source
J Appl Physiol 2014 Apr; 116(7):767-778
Abstract
This study investigated mechanisms for the stressor-induced changes in muscle fatigability in men and women. Participants performed an isometric-fatiguing contraction at 20% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) until failure with the elbow flexor muscles. Study one (n = 55; 29 women) involved two experimental sessions: 1) a high-stressor session that required a difficult mental-math task before and during a fatiguing contraction and 2) a control session with no mental math. For some participants (n = 28; 14 women), cortical stimulation was used to examine mechanisms that contributed to muscle fatigability during the high-stressor and control sessions. Study two (n = 23; nine women) determined the influence of a low stressor, i.e., a simple mental-math task, on muscle fatigability. In study one, the time-to-task failure was less for the high-stressor session than control (P < 0.05) for women (19.4%) and men (9.5%): the sex difference response disappeared when covaried for initial strength (MVC). MVC force, voluntary activation, and peak-twitch amplitude decreased similarly for the control and high-stressor sessions (P < 0.05). In study two, the time-to-task failure of men or women was not influenced by the low stressor (P > 0.05). The greater fatigability, when exposed to a high stressor during a low-force task, was not exclusive to women but involved a strength-related mechanism in both weaker men and women that accelerated declines in voluntary activation and slowing of contractile properties.
Keywords
Humans; Men; Women; Muscles; Fatigue; Musculoskeletal-system; Muscle-tension; Muscle-stress; Muscle-physiology; Physiology; Physiological-effects; Physiological-function; Physiological-fatigue; Mental-processes; Sex-factors; Age-factors; Age-groups;
Author Keywords: gender; muscle fatigue; sex differences; transcranial magnetic stimulation; voluntary activation
Contact
M. L. Keller-Ross, Dept. of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, 200 First St., S.W., Rochester, MN 55901
Document Type
Journal Article
Email Address
keller.manda@mayo.edu
Identifying No.
Grant-Number-T42-OH-008672; M122014
Priority Area
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
Source Name
Journal of Applied Physiology
Performing Organization
University of Illinois at Chicago
