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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 10, 2026

Ex Vivo Assessment of Contractility, Fatigability and Alternans in Isolated Skeletal Muscles

Ex Vivo Assessment of Contractility, Fatigability and Alternans in Isolated Skeletal Muscles

Published on: November 1, 2012

Skeletal muscle fatigue.

Jane A Kent-Braun¹, Robert H Fitts, Anita Christie

¹Department of Kinesiology, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA. janekb@kin.umass.edu

Comprehensive Physiology

|June 27, 2013

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Skeletal muscle fatigue, a decline in force or power during activity, has diverse mechanisms and measurement methods. Understanding its molecular to organismal basis aids in identifying disease-related dysfunction.

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Area of Science:

Physiology
Exercise Science
Pathology

Background:

Skeletal muscle fatigue is a critical factor limiting physical performance.
The mechanisms underlying muscle fatigue are complex and multifaceted.
Understanding fatigue is essential for both athletic performance and clinical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

To define skeletal muscle fatigue and its variability.
To highlight the range of mechanisms and methods for studying fatigue.
To explore the role of fatigue in disease states.

Main Methods:

Examining fatigue from molecular to whole-organism levels.
Utilizing conceptual and technological advancements in research.
Evaluating muscle fatigue across various disease conditions.

Main Results:

Fatigue mechanisms and elicitation modes show significant variation.
Advances enable comprehensive analysis of fatigue.
Disease states reveal specific sources of muscle dysfunction.

Conclusions:

Skeletal muscle fatigue is characterized by reduced force/power output.
Research approaches span multiple biological scales.
Studying fatigue in disease provides insights into pathophysiology.