title: The Magnitude of Peripheral Muscle Fatigue Induced by High and Low Intensity Single-Joint Exercise Does Not Lead to Central Motor Output Reductions in Resistance Trained Men.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine quadriceps muscle fatigue and central motor output during fatiguing single joint exercise at 40% and 80% maximal torque output in resistance trained men.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten resistance trained men performed fatiguing isometric knee extensor exercise at 40% and 80% of maximal torque output. Maximal torque, rate of torque development, and measures of central motor output and peripheral muscle fatigue were recorded at two matched volumes of exercise, and after a final contraction performed to exhaustion. Central motor output was quantified from changes in voluntary activation, normalized surface electromyograms (EMG), and V-waves. Quadriceps muscle fatigue was assessed from changes in the size and shape of the resting potentiated twitch (Q.(pot.tw)). Central motor output during the exercise protocols was estimated from EMG and interpolated twitches applied during the task (VA(sub)).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Greater reductions in maximal torque and rate of torque development were observed during the 40% protocol (p<0.05). Maximal central motor output did not change for either protocol. For the 40% protocol reductions from pre-exercise in rate and amplitude variables calculated from the Q.(pot.tw) between 66.2 to 70.8% (p<0.001) exceeded those observed during the 80% protocol (p<0.01). V-waves only declined during the 80% protocol between 56.8 ± 35.8% to 53.6 ± 37.4% (p<0.05). At the end of the final 80% contraction VA(sub) had increased from 91.2 ± 6.2% to 94.9 ± 4.7% (p = 0.005), but a greater increase was observed during the 40% contraction where VA(sub) had increased from 67.1 ± 6.1% to 88.9 ± 9.6% (p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maximal central motor output in resistance trained men is well preserved despite varying levels of peripheral muscle fatigue. Upregulated central motor output during the 40% contraction protocol appeared to elicit greater peripheral fatigue. V-waves declines during the 80% protocol suggest intensity dependent modulation of the Ia afferent pathway.
authors.affiliation: Human Performance Laboratory, School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul W M
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.affiliation: Human Performance Laboratory, School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA), Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Harrison T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Finn
authors.affiliation: Human Performance Laboratory, School of Science and Health, University of Western Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Jason C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Siegler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D018763:Muscle Fatigue; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods; D019415:Torque; D055815:Young Adult