Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Exercise and Muscle Performance01:27

Exercise and Muscle Performance

2.9K
Exercise induces a range of adaptations in muscle tissue, depending on the type and duration of activity. Such physical training can be broadly categorized into two types: endurance exercises and resistance exercises.
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
2.9K
Cross-bridge Cycle01:26

Cross-bridge Cycle

123.9K
As muscle contracts, the overlap between the thin and thick filaments increases, decreasing the length of the sarcomere—the contractile unit of the muscle—using energy in the form of ATP. At the molecular level, this is a cyclic, multistep process that involves binding and hydrolysis of ATP, and movement of actin by myosin.
123.9K
Classification of Skeletal Muscle Fibers01:48

Classification of Skeletal Muscle Fibers

59.8K
Skeletal muscles continuously produce ATP to provide the energy that enables muscle contractions. Skeletal muscle fibers can be categorized into three types based on differences in their contraction speed and how they produce ATP, as well as physical differences related to these factors. Most human muscles contain all three muscle fiber types, albeit in varying proportions.
Slow-Twitch Muscle Fibers
Slow oxidative, muscle fibers appear red due to large numbers of capillaries and high levels of...
59.8K
Muscle Recovery and Fatigue01:24

Muscle Recovery and Fatigue

4.6K
Muscle fatigue refers to the decline in a muscle's ability to maintain the force of contraction after prolonged activity. It primarily stems from changes within muscle fibers. Even before experiencing muscle fatigue, one may feel tired and have the urge to stop the activity. This response, known as central fatigue, occurs due to changes in the central nervous system, namely the brain and spinal cord. While there is no single mechanism that induces fatigue, it may serve as a protective...
4.6K
Types of Skeletal Muscle Fibers01:32

Types of Skeletal Muscle Fibers

4.9K
Skeletal muscles comprise various fibers, each with distinct characteristics and roles in movement and stability. They are mainly categorized into three types — fast-twitch, slow-twitch, and intermediate.
Fast-twitch fibers
Fast-twitch fibers, or Type II fibers, are designed for quick, powerful bursts of speed and strength. They reach peak tension within approximately 0.01 seconds following stimulation. Characterized by a large diameter and densely packed myofibrils, these fibers contain...
4.9K
Muscle Stimulation Frequency01:22

Muscle Stimulation Frequency

4.9K
The contraction strength of muscles is regulated by motor neurons, which modulate the frequency of action potentials dispatched to the motor units based on the body's requirements. This process of varying the muscle stimulation frequency allows muscles to contract with a force that is precisely tailored to the needs of the moment, whether lifting a feather or a heavy box.
Wave summation
At low firing rates, motor neurons induce individual twitch contractions in muscle fibers. These twitches...
4.9K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Rapid Torque Production of the Knee Extensors: An Integrative Analysis of Neuromuscular and Muscle-Tendon Determinants.

Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports·2026
Same author

Time-Course of Physiological Adaptations to High-Intensity Interval Training-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation After Myocardial Infarction.

Journal of clinical medicine·2026
Same author

Timing Matters: Effectiveness of Compressive Garments on Recovery in Trail Runners.

Journal of strength and conditioning research·2026
Same author

Specific Quintuple: An On-Field Test to Predict Triple Jump Performance with High Accuracy.

Journal of human kinetics·2026
Same author

Lateral Dominance and Cognitive-Motor Performance in Elite Athletes: A Virtual Reality Study.

Perceptual and motor skills·2026
Same author

Biological Maturation Is Associated with Single-Leg Jump Performance, but Not with the Magnitude of Inter-Limb Asymmetry.

Sports (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 8, 2026

Measurement of Maximum Isometric Force Generated by Permeabilized Skeletal Muscle Fibers
11:30

Measurement of Maximum Isometric Force Generated by Permeabilized Skeletal Muscle Fibers

Published on: June 16, 2015

26.4K

Decrease of muscle fiber conduction velocity correlates with strength loss after an endurance run.

Gennaro Boccia1, Davide Dardanello, Cantor Tarperi

  • 1CeRiSM Research Center 'Sport, Mountain, and Health', via del Ben 5/b, Rovereto, (TN) 38068, Italy. Department of Medical Sciences, Motor Science Research Center, School of Exercise & Sport Sciences, SUISM, University of Turin, 12, piazza Bernini, Torino 10143, Italy.

Physiological Measurement
|January 19, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Endurance running causes muscle fatigue, decreasing both electromyographic (EMG) amplitude and muscle fiber conduction velocity (CV). This suggests larger muscle fibers are most affected by fatigue after prolonged exercise.

More Related Videos

Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People
12:59

Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People

Published on: July 5, 2017

13.3K
Author Spotlight: Deciphering the Mysteries of Skeletal Muscle Fiber Types Using the MyDoBID Technique
07:04

Author Spotlight: Deciphering the Mysteries of Skeletal Muscle Fiber Types Using the MyDoBID Technique

Published on: September 22, 2023

3.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 8, 2026

Measurement of Maximum Isometric Force Generated by Permeabilized Skeletal Muscle Fibers
11:30

Measurement of Maximum Isometric Force Generated by Permeabilized Skeletal Muscle Fibers

Published on: June 16, 2015

26.4K
Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People
12:59

Improving Strength, Power, Muscle Aerobic Capacity, and Glucose Tolerance through Short-term Progressive Strength Training Among Elderly People

Published on: July 5, 2017

13.3K
Author Spotlight: Deciphering the Mysteries of Skeletal Muscle Fiber Types Using the MyDoBID Technique
07:04

Author Spotlight: Deciphering the Mysteries of Skeletal Muscle Fiber Types Using the MyDoBID Technique

Published on: September 22, 2023

3.7K

Area of Science:

  • Exercise Physiology
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Sports Science

Background:

  • Muscle fatigue, characterized by exercise-induced strength loss, is a critical factor in athletic performance.
  • Surface electromyography (EMG) is a valuable tool for assessing muscle function and fatigue.
  • Muscle fiber conduction velocity (CV) provides insights into the electrophysiological properties of muscle fibers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the changes in muscle fiber conduction velocity (CV) in knee extensor muscles following an endurance run.
  • To determine the relationship between strength loss, EMG amplitude, and CV after a half-marathon.
  • To characterize the impact of endurance exercise on different muscle fiber types.

Main Methods:

  • 11 amateur runners underwent maximum voluntary contractions (MVCs) of knee extensors before and after a half-marathon (21.097 km).
  • Multichannel EMG signals were recorded from the vastus lateralis muscle during MVCs.
  • EMG amplitude and muscle fiber CV were calculated to assess muscle fatigue and electrophysiological changes.

Main Results:

  • A significant decrease in knee extensor strength (-13%) and EMG amplitude (-13%) was observed post-run.
  • Muscle fiber CV also significantly reduced (-6%) after the endurance run.
  • Strength loss was positively correlated with the reduction in vastus lateralis CV, indicating impaired function of larger muscle fibers.

Conclusions:

  • Exercise-induced muscle fatigue following endurance running is associated with reductions in both EMG amplitude and muscle fiber CV.
  • The findings suggest that muscle fibers with higher CV, typically larger fibers, are more susceptible to fatigue after prolonged endurance exercise.
  • This study highlights the importance of considering CV changes in understanding the mechanisms of muscle fatigue.