Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026
Measuring the Motor Aspect of Cancer-Related Fatigue using a Handheld Dynamometer
Published on: February 20, 2020
Gender influence on fatigability of back muscles during intermittent isometric contractions: a study of neuromuscular
Christian Larivière1, Denis Gravel, Denis Gagnon
1Occupational Health and Safety Research Institute Robert-Sauvé, Montreal, Que., Canada H3A 3C2. lariviere.christian@irsst.qc.ca
Background:
Gender difference in the fatigability of muscles can be attributed to muscle mass (or strength) and associated level of vascular occlusion, substrate utilization, muscle composition, and neuromuscular activation patterns. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of neuromuscular activation patterns to explain gender differences in back muscle fatigability during intermittent isometric tasks.
Methods:
Sixteen males and 15 females performed maximal voluntary contractions (Strength) and a fatigue test to exhaustion (fatigue criterion=time to exhaustion), while standing in a static dynamometer measuring L5/S1 extension moment. The fatigue test consisted of repetitions of an 8-s cycle (1.5 s ramp to reach 40% of maximal voluntary contraction +5s plateau at 40% of maximal voluntary contraction +1.5s rest). Surface electromyography signals were collected bilaterally from 4 back muscles (multifidus at the L5 level, iliocostalis lumborum at L3, and longissimus at L1 and T10).
Findings:
Males were stronger (P<0.05) than females (316, SD 82>196, SD 25 Nm) but showed significantly shorter time-to-exhaustion values (7.1, SD 5.2<13.0, SD 6.1 min.), the latter result being corroborated by electromyographic indices of fatigue. However, the gender effect on time to exhaustion disappeared when accounting for Strength, thus supporting the muscle mass hypothesis. Among the various electromyographic indices computed to assess neuromuscular activation patterns, the amount of alternating activity between homolateral and between contralateral muscles showed a gender effect (females>males).
Interpretation:
These results support the muscle mass hypothesis as well as the neuromuscular activation hypothesis to explain gender differences in back muscle fatigability.
