Assessment of acute neuromuscular fatigue manifestations and functional performances after heavy resistance exercise

  • Nidhal Zarrouk*
  • , Khouloud Mtibaa
  • , Omar Hammouda
  • , Hamdi Chtourou
  • , Khansa Chaabouni
  • , Fatma Ayadi-Makni
  • , Haithem Rebai
  • *Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess neuromuscular fatigue after heavy resistance exercise in rugby players. METHODS: Twelve male rugby players performed five sets of knee extension exercise lifting 80% of their one repetition maximum until failure, with 3min of rest in-between. Maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and surface electromyographic activity from quadriceps muscles, as well as ions (i.e., Na+, K+, and Cl-) and metabolic responses (i.e., blood lactate and ammonia concentrations) were measured before and after exercise. Maximum repetitions performance and both peripheral (RPEp) and overall body (RPEo) rating of perceived exertion were recorded following each set. RESULTS: The number of maximum repetitions decreased significantly across sets (P<0.001). Both RPEp and RPEo increased significantly across sets (P<0.001) with higher RPEp values after each set (P<0.001). Both RPEp (r=-0.98, P<0.01) and RPEo (r=-0.99, P<0.001) were negatively correlated with the changes in the number of maximum repetitions. MVC (P<0.001), root mean square (P<0.05), and neuromuscular efficiency (P<0.01) as well as Na+ (P<0.01), Cl- (P<0.001) and blood concentrations of lactate (P<0.001) and ammonia (P<0.001) increased significantly after the exercise. However, K+ (P<0.001) increased after the resistance exercise. CONCLUSIONS: Heavy resistance exercise affected both objective (i.e., neuromuscular and biochemical parameters) and subjective (i.e., RPE) aspects of neuromuscular fatigue.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1596-1604
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness
Volume61
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Electromyography
  • Ions
  • Metabolism
  • Physical exertion

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