Performance fatigability during isometric vs. concentric quadriceps fatiguing tasks in men and women

In the present study, we aimed to provide a robust comparison of the fatigability of the knee extensors following isometric (ISO) and concentric (CON) tasks. Twenty young adults (25 ± 4 yr, 10 women) randomly performed the ISO and CON quadriceps intermittent fatigue test, consisting of ten (5 s on/5-s off, ISO) or one-hundred (0.5-s on/0.5-s off, CON) contractions with 10 % increments per stage until exhaustion. Performance fatigability was quantified as maximal isometric (MVIC) and concentric (MVCC) torque loss. Voluntary activation and contractile function (peak-twitch) were investigated using peripheral nerve stimulation. Number of stages (6.2 ± 0.7 vs. 4.9 ± 0.8; P < 0.001) and torque-time integral (20,166 ± 7,821 vs. 11,285 ± 4,933 Nm.s; P < 0.001) were greater for ISO than CON. MVIC, MVCC and voluntary activation decreased similarly between sessions (P > 0.05) whereas peak-twitch amplitude decreased more for CON (P < 0.001). The number of contractions was similar across sexes (ISO: men = 62 ± 8, women = 61 ± 5; CON: men = 521 ± 67, women = 458 ± 76, P > 0.05). MVCC was more reduced in women for both sessions (all P < 0.05), while MVIC loss was similar between sexes. We concluded that, despite greater torque-time integral and duration for ISO, both sessions induced a similar performance fatigability at exhaustion. Contractile function was more altered in CON. Finally, sex-related difference in fatigability depends on the contraction mode used during testing.