Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 67, Issue 2 648-654, Copyright © 1989 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Relationship of contraction capacity to metabolic changes during recovery from a fatiguing contraction

K. Sahlin and J. M. Ren
Department of Clinical Physiology, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge University Hospital, Sweden.

The relationship between changes in muscle metabolites and the contraction capacity was investigated in humans. Subjects (n = 13) contracted (knee extension) at a target force of 66% of the maximal voluntary contraction force (MVC) to fatigue, and the recovery in MVC and endurance (time to fatigue) were measured. Force recovered rapidly [half-time (t 1/2) less than 15 s] and after 2 min of recovery was not significantly different (P greater than 0.05) from the precontraction value. Endurance recovered more slowly (t 1/2 approximately 1.2 min) and was still significantly depressed after 2 and 4 min of recovery (P less than 0.05). In separate experiments (n = 10) muscle biopsy specimens were taken from the quadriceps femoris muscle before and after two successive contractions to fatigue at 66% of MVC with a recovery period of 2 or 4 min in between. The muscle content of high-energy phosphates and lactate was similar at fatigue after both contractions, whereas glucose 6-phosphate was lower after the second contraction (P less than 0.05). During recovery, muscle lactate decreased and was 74 and 43% of the value at fatigue after an elapsed period of 2 and 4 min, respectively. The decline in H+ due to lactate disappearance is balanced, however, by a release of H+ due to resynthesis of phosphocreatine, and after 2 min of recovery calculated muscle pH was found to remain at a low level similar to that at fatigue.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. G. Allen, G. D. Lamb, and H. Westerblad Skeletal Muscle Fatigue: Cellular Mechanisms Physiol Rev, January 1, 2008; 88(1): 287 - 332. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. C. H. Smith and D. J. Newham Fatigue and functional performance of human biceps muscle following concentric or eccentric contractions J Appl Physiol, January 1, 2007; 102(1): 207 - 213. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Burnley, J. H. Doust, and A. M. Jones Time required for the restoration of normal heavy exercise VO2 kinetics following prior heavy exercise J Appl Physiol, November 1, 2006; 101(5): 1320 - 1327. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Sahlin, J. S. Nielsen, M. Mogensen, and M. Tonkonogi Repeated static contractions increase mitochondrial vulnerability toward oxidative stress in human skeletal muscle J Appl Physiol, September 1, 2006; 101(3): 833 - 839. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Nodera, H. Bostock, Y. Izumi, K. Nakamura, R. Urushihara, T. Sakamoto, N. Murase, H. Shimazu, S. Kusunoki, and R. Kaji Activity-dependent conduction block in multifocal motor neuropathy: magnetic fatigue test. Neurology, July 25, 2006; 67(2): 280 - 287. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B Skof, V Strojnik, and G Millet Neuromuscular fatigue and recovery dynamics following prolonged continuous run at anaerobic threshold * Commentary. Br. J. Sports Med., March 1, 2006; 40(3): 219 - 222. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. P. Holloway, H. J. Green, T. A. Duhamel, S. Ferth, J. W. Moule, J. Ouyang, and A. R. Tupling Muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ cycling adaptations during 16 h of heavy intermittent cycle exercise J Appl Physiol, September 1, 2005; 99(3): 836 - 843. [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]

				J. Li, N. C. King, and L. I. Sinoway ATP concentrations and muscle tension increase linearly with muscle contraction J Appl Physiol, August 1, 2003; 95(2): 577 - 583. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Westerblad, D. G. Allen, and J. Lannergren Muscle Fatigue: Lactic Acid or Inorganic Phosphate the Major Cause? Physiology, February 1, 2002; 17(1): 17 - 21. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Casey and P. L Greenhaff Does dietary creatine supplementation play a role in skeletal muscle metabolism and performance? Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, August 1, 2000; 72(2): 607S - 617. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Groussard, I. Morel, M. Chevanne, M. Monnier, J. Cillard, and A. Delamarche Free radical scavenging and antioxidant effects of lactate ion: an in vitro study J Appl Physiol, July 1, 2000; 89(1): 169 - 175. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Zhao, R. J. Snow, C. G. Stathis, M. A. Febbraio, and M. F. Carey Muscle adenine nucleotide metabolism during and in recovery from maximal exercise in humans J Appl Physiol, May 1, 2000; 88(5): 1513 - 1519. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. D. Bruton, J. Lannergren, and H. Westerblad Effects of CO2-induced acidification on the fatigue resistance of single mouse muscle fibers at 28°C J Appl Physiol, August 1, 1998; 85(2): 478 - 483. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Hargreaves, M. J. McKenna, D. G. Jenkins, S. A. Warmington, J. L. Li, R. J. Snow, and M. A. Febbraio Muscle metabolites and performance during high-intensity, intermittent exercise J Appl Physiol, May 1, 1998; 84(5): 1687 - 1691. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]