title: Fatigue resistance of the knee extensor muscles is not reduced in post-polio syndrome.
abstract: The present study investigated whether intrinsic fatigability of the muscle fibers is reduced in patients with post-polio syndrome (PPS). This may contribute to the muscle fatigue complaints reported by patients with PPS. For this purpose, we assessed contractile properties and fatigue resistance of the knee extensor muscles using repeated isometric electrically evoked contractions in 38 patients with PPS and 19 age-matched healthy subjects. To determine whether any difference in fatigue resistance between both groups could be attributed to differences in aerobic capacity of the muscle fibers, 9 patients with PPS and 11 healthy subjects performed the same protocol under arterial occlusion. Results showed that fatigue resistance of patients with PPS was comparable to that in controls, both in the situation with intact circulation and with occluded blood flow. Together, our findings suggest that there are no differences in contractile properties and aerobic muscle capacity that may account for the increased muscle fatigue perceived in PPS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; MOVE Research Institute Amsterdam, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Electronic address: e.l.voorn@amc.uva.nl.
authors.forename: Eric L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Voorn
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beelen
authors.forename: Karin H L
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Gerrits
authors.forename: Frans
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nollet
authors.forename: Arnold
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: de Haan
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018763:Muscle Fatigue; D053580:Muscle Strength; D016262:Postpoliomyelitis Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Electric stimulation; Muscle weakness; Muscular fatigue; Postpoliomyelitis syndrome; Skeletal muscle fibers