Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 65, Issue 4 1500-1505, Copyright © 1988 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Energy cost and fatigue during intermittent electrical stimulation of human skeletal muscle

M. Bergstrom and E. Hultman
Department of Clinical Chemistry II, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge University Hospital, Sweden.

Force generation and ATP utilization under anaerobic conditions were studied in the quadriceps femoris muscle of six volunteers. Electrical stimulation (20 Hz) was used to produce contractions with a duration of 0.8 s in one leg and contractions with a duration of 3.2 s in the other leg. The two procedures were designed to give the same total contraction time of 51 s and used the same number of stimulation pulses. Muscle biopsies were taken at rest and after 22 and 51 s of work and analyzed for ATP, phosphocreatine, and glucolytic intermediates. The results were compared with previous studies on continuous and intermittent stimulation. Fatigue developed significantly faster with contractions of short duration, and the energy cost was higher. Since force at the end of stimulation had a negative correlation to ATP utilization, there is no indication that the energy resources limit force generation. By comparison of stimulations producing the same amount of isometric work but with a different number of contractions, we estimate that the energy cost for activation and relaxation of a 1-s contraction is approximately 37% of the total ATP consumption.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. Doke and A. D. Kuo Energetic cost of producing cyclic muscle force, rather than work, to swing the human leg J. Exp. Biol., July 1, 2007; 210(13): 2390 - 2398. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Pontzer Predicting the energy cost of terrestrial locomotion: a test of the LiMb model in humans and quadrupeds J. Exp. Biol., February 1, 2007; 210(3): 484 - 494. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. L. Armstrong, A. K. Dua, and C. L. Murrant Time course of vasodilation at the onset of repetitive skeletal muscle contractions Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, January 1, 2007; 292(1): R505 - R515. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. L. Murrant Stimulation characteristics that determine arteriolar dilation in skeletal muscle Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, August 1, 2005; 289(2): R505 - R513. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. J. Hamann, H. A. Kluess, J. B. Buckwalter, and P. S. Clifford Blood flow response to muscle contractions is more closely related to metabolic rate than contractile work J Appl Physiol, June 1, 2005; 98(6): 2096 - 2100. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Doke, J. M. Donelan, and A. D. Kuo Mechanics and energetics of swinging the human leg J. Exp. Biol., February 1, 2005; 208(3): 439 - 445. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. L. Darques, D Bendahan, M Roussel, B Giannesini, F Tagliarini, Y Le Fur, P. J. Cozzone, and Y Jammes Combined in situ analysis of metabolic and myoelectrical changes associated with electrically induced fatigue J Appl Physiol, October 1, 2003; 95(4): 1476 - 1484. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Hamada, H. Sasaki, T. Hayashi, T. Moritani, and K. Nakao Enhancement of whole body glucose uptake during and after human skeletal muscle low-frequency electrical stimulation J Appl Physiol, June 1, 2003; 94(6): 2107 - 2112. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. W. Russ and J. A. Kent-Braun Sex differences in human skeletal muscle fatigue are eliminated under ischemic conditions J Appl Physiol, June 1, 2003; 94(6): 2414 - 2422. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. McDaniel, J. L. Durstine, G. A. Hand, and J. C. Martin Determinants of metabolic cost during submaximal cycling J Appl Physiol, September 1, 2002; 93(3): 823 - 828. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. W. Russ, K. Vandenborne, and S. A. Binder-Macleod Factors in fatigue during intermittent electrical stimulation of human skeletal muscle J Appl Physiol, August 1, 2002; 93(2): 469 - 478. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. W. Russ, K. Vandenborne, G. A. Walter, M. Elliott, and S. A. Binder-Macleod Effects of muscle activation on fatigue and metabolism in human skeletal muscle J Appl Physiol, May 1, 2002; 92(5): 1978 - 1986. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. C. Lukaski and F. H. Nielsen Dietary Magnesium Depletion Affects Metabolic Responses during Submaximal Exercise in Postmenopausal Women J. Nutr., May 1, 2002; 132(5): 930 - 935. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. W. Russ, M. A. Elliott, K. Vandenborne, G. A. Walter, and S. A. Binder-Macleod Metabolic costs of isometric force generation and maintenance of human skeletal muscle Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, February 1, 2002; 282(2): E448 - E457. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. G. Favero Sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release and muscle fatigue J Appl Physiol, August 1, 1999; 87(2): 471 - 483. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. A. Smith, S. J. Montain, R. P. Matott, G. P. Zientara, F. A. Jolesz, and R. A. Fielding Effects of creatine supplementation on the energy cost of muscle contraction: a 31P-MRS study J Appl Physiol, July 1, 1999; 87(1): 116 - 123. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Skeletal Muscle Dysfunction in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease . A Statement of the American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., April 1, 1999; 159(4): S2 - 40. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. van Leemputte, K. Vandenberghe, and P. Hespel Shortening of muscle relaxation time after creatine loading J Appl Physiol, March 1, 1999; 86(3): 840 - 844. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. C. Hogan, E. Ingham, and S. S. Kurdak Contraction duration affects metabolic energy cost and fatigue in skeletal muscle Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, March 1, 1998; 274(3): E397 - E402. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]