The effect of multiple sclerosis and gender on central and peripheral fatigue during 2-min MVC

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of secondary progressive MS disease on central and peripheral fatigue in women and men during continuous 2-min maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) of the quadriceps muscle.

We studied age-matched (40-50-years of age) healthy individuals (men, n=9; women, n=10) and MS patients (men, n=9; women, n=9). The inclusion criteria for MS patients were a Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Score <4 and a Fatigue Severity Scale Score >5.

The electrically-induced torque, MVC, and voluntary activation (VA) values were significantly greater in healthy persons than in MS patients. At the end of exercise, the fatigue index of MVC and VA was greater in MS patients than in the healthy cohort, whereas the electrically-induced torque was significantly decreased in healthy individuals. Peripheral fatigue was directly correlated with VA in MS patients; in contrast, it was inversely correlated with VA in healthy men. The variability of torque increased significantly during exercise and did not depend on MS and gender.

MS increased central fatigue and diminished peripheral fatigue significantly during 2-min MVC; however, only peripheral fatigue was significantly greater in healthy men than in healthy women.

These results suggest the specified pattern of central and peripheral fatigue in MS patients and could be further exploited for potential therapeutic uses, for instance, to model exercise-induced less central fatigue, and this may not be differentiated between men and women.