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The interactive effect of cooling and hypoxia on forearm fatigue development
Alex Lloyd1, Simon Hodder, George Havenith
1Environmental Ergonomics Research Centre, Loughborough University, James France Bldg, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 2TU, UK.
European Journal of Applied Physiology
|May 13, 2015
Summary
Both cold and hypoxia reduce forearm muscle force during exercise. Combining these stressors causes an additive decrease in force, indicating a mechanical origin rather than impaired muscle recruitment.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Physiology
- Exercise Science
- Human Performance
Background:
- Muscle fatigue is influenced by environmental factors.
- Understanding the combined effects of hypoxia and cold on muscle function is crucial for performance optimization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the independent and combined effects of hypoxia and cold on forearm muscle fatigue.
- To determine the impact on maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) force after repeated contractions.
Main Methods:
- Eight males underwent four conditions: normoxic-thermoneutral, hypoxic-thermoneutral, normoxic-cold, and hypoxic-cold.
- Participants performed intermittent forearm exercise at 15% MVC.
- MVC force and electromyography (EMG) were measured during repeated work bouts.
Main Results:
- Hypoxia and cold independently reduced MVC force by 8.1% and 13.9%, respectively.
- Combined hypoxia and cold resulted in a 21.4% greater decrease in MVC force, demonstrating an additive effect.
- EMG relative to force increased additively under combined stressors, suggesting a mechanical basis for fatigue.
Conclusions:
- Both cold and hypoxia significantly impair brief MVC force output during exercise.
- The reduction in force is primarily mechanical, not due to muscle fiber recruitment failure.
- Combined exposure to cold and hypoxia leads to an additive reduction in force output.
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