Muscle Fatigue

Mike Pascoe, M.S.

 “Check the Map”
• How muscle activation is achieved by the
CNS
• AGING - long term change in the ability
to produce force
• MUSCLE FATIGUE - short term change
in the ability to produce force
 Definition
• “an exercise-induced reduction in the
capacity of muscle to produce force”
• IS NOT: Perceived weakness, tiredness
• IS: Activity related impairment of
physiological processes that reduce the
force generating capacity of muscle
• What does this look like?
 Adaptations - Fatigue
• Early observations 1884

• Fatigue begins soon after the onset of physical

activity
 Quantification
• Reduction that occurs in the peak force during a
maximal voluntary contraction (MVC)

100
Force (%MVC)

Fatigue
Exercise

Before After
 Sites of Fatigue
• Not only contractile protein impairment, but also decrease
in activation signal from the brain
 Recent Strategies
• Cannot answer “what causes muscle fatigue?”

• Instead, ask “what causes task failure?”

• Our lab’s approach has been to focus on the

mechanisms that cause task failure

• Mechanisms responsible for failure depend on the

details of the task

• Involves comparing two performances and

identifying the adjustments that limit the rate of
the more difficult condition
 Force Task Position Task

Maintain a submax force Maintain elbow angle

 Task Failure
1,500

1,200
Time To Failure (s)

900

600

300

0
Force Task Position Task
Force Task Position Task
Neural Adjustments
 Clicker Question
• Why is the time to task failure shorter for the
position task?
A. Motor units were recruited more rapidly
B. The target torque was lower in the force task
C. The elbow angle changed more during the
force task
D. It was harder to maintain MVC during the
position task
E. Because Mike said so
 Clicker Question
• Why is the time to task failure shorter for the
position task?
A. Motor units were recruited more rapidly
B. The target torque was lower in the force task
C. The elbow angle changed more during the
force task
D. It was harder to maintain MVC during the
position task
E. Because Mike said so
Force Task Position Task
Neural Adjustments
 Applications
• Ergonomics
• Rehabilitation
• Training specificity

Basic Applied