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Neuromuscular function following prolonged intense self-paced exercise in hot climatic conditions

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Abstract

Muscle weakness following constant load exercise under heat stress has been associated with hyperthermia-induced central fatigue. However, evidence of central fatigue influencing intense self-paced exercise in the heat is lacking. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate force production capacity and central nervous system drive in skeletal muscle pre- and post-cycle ergometer exercise in hot and cool conditions. Nine trained male cyclists performed a 20-s maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVC) prior to (control) and following a 40-km time trial in hot (35°C) and cool (20°C) conditions. MVC force production and voluntary activation of the knee extensors was evaluated via percutaneous tetanic stimulation. In the cool condition, rectal temperature increased to 39.0°C and reached 39.8°C in the heat (P < 0.01). Following exercise in the hot and cool conditions, peak force declined by ~90 and ~99 N, respectively, compared with control (P < 0.01). Mean force decreased by 15% (hot) and 14% (cool) (P < 0.01 vs. control). Voluntary activation during the post-exercise MVC declined to 93.7% (hot) and 93.9% (cool) (P < 0.05 vs. control). The post-exercise decline in voluntary activation represented ~20% of the decrease in mean force production in both conditions. Therefore, the additional increase in rectal temperature did not exacerbate the loss of force production following self-paced exercise in the heat. The impairment in force production indicates that the fatigue exhibited by the quadriceps is mainly of peripheral origin and a consequence of the prolonged contractile activity associated with exercise.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Mike White and Dr. Martin Lakie for their constructive technical comments regarding percutaneous electrical stimulation. We also thank all the subjects who participated in this investigation, and Fionnuala Crowe and Carol Finn for their help with data collection. This research was supported by the University of Sydney Faculty of Health Sciences.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Discipline of Exercise and Sport Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, 75 East Street, Lidcombe, NSW, 2141, Australia

    Julien D. Périard, Matthew N. Cramer, Phillip G. Chapman, Corinne Caillaud & Martin W. Thompson

  2. School of Exercise Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Strathfield, Australia

    Phillip G. Chapman

Authors
  1. Julien D. Périard
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  2. Matthew N. Cramer
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  3. Phillip G. Chapman
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  4. Corinne Caillaud
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  5. Martin W. Thompson
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Correspondence to Julien D. Périard.

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Communicated by Toshio Moritani.

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Périard, J.D., Cramer, M.N., Chapman, P.G. et al. Neuromuscular function following prolonged intense self-paced exercise in hot climatic conditions. Eur J Appl Physiol 111, 1561–1569 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1781-3

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