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Neuromuscular fatigue differences between prepubertal boys and men after maximal concentric versus eccentric
Baptiste Chanel1,2, Nicolas Babault3,4, Carole Cometti3,4
1Centre d'Expertise de la Performance, Faculté des Sciences du Sport, Université Bourgogne Europe, 21000, Dijon, France. baptiste.chanel@u-bourgogne.fr.
European Journal of Applied Physiology
|August 27, 2025
Summary
Prepubertal boys experience less neuromuscular fatigue than men during maximal contractions, suggesting concentric and eccentric exercises are suitable for young athletes. This finding highlights differences in fatigue resistance between age groups.
Area of Science:
- Neuromuscular Physiology
- Exercise Science
- Pediatric Sports Medicine
Background:
- Understanding age-related differences in neuromuscular fatigue is crucial for optimizing training protocols in young athletes.
- Maximal voluntary contractions (MVIC) and electromyographic activity (EMG) are key indicators of neuromuscular function and fatigue.
- Eccentric (ECC) and concentric (CONC) contractions elicit distinct physiological responses and fatigue patterns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare neuromuscular fatigue development between prepubertal boys and adult men.
- To investigate fatigue responses to both eccentric and concentric maximal contractions.
- To assess the influence of age on torque production and muscle activation during fatiguing protocols.
Main Methods:
- Twelve prepubertal boys and twelve men participated in randomized experimental sessions involving CONC or ECC isokinetic fatiguing protocols.
- Each protocol consisted of three sets of 30 maximal isokinetic contractions.
- Maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC) and electromyographic activity (EMG) of vastus lateralis (VL) and rectus femoris (RF) were measured pre- and post-fatigue.
Main Results:
- Boys exhibited significantly lower decreases in MVIC torque compared to men after the second and third sets, irrespective of contraction type.
- During CONC sessions, boys showed lower RF EMG during MVIC and reduced torque decrease during dynamic contractions compared to men.
- No significant age-related differences in EMG during dynamic contractions were observed; differences in ECC sessions were less pronounced than in CONC.
Conclusions:
- Prepubertal boys demonstrate lower neuromuscular fatigue than men, indicating greater fatigue resistance.
- Concentric and eccentric contractions appear to be effective training modalities for prepubertal boys.
- These findings suggest that training adaptations may differ between prepubertal and adult populations.
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