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Neuromuscular Fatigue and Perceived Fatigability in the Hours Following a High-Intensity Endurance Running Depend on
Yago Medeiros Dutra1, Paloma Tavares Mendonça1, Stuart Goodall2,3
1Laboratory of Physiology and Sport Performance (LAFIDE), School of Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Bauru, Brazil.
European Journal of Sport Science
|July 27, 2026
Summary
High-intensity endurance running protocols impact neuromuscular fatigue and perceived fatigability. The chosen protocol influences neural drive, muscle contractile function, and recovery time, affecting athletes hours post-exercise.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Sports Science
- Neuromuscular Function
Background:
- High-intensity endurance running is crucial for athletic performance.
- Understanding neuromuscular fatigue and perceived fatigability is vital for training optimization.
- Different running protocols may elicit varying physiological responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of distinct high-intensity endurance running protocols on neuromuscular fatigue.
- To assess perceived fatigability and recovery following these protocols.
- To determine how exercise intensity and duration influence neuromuscular responses.
Main Methods:
- Twelve male participants with a mean VO2 max of 52.2 ± 6.9 mL/kg/min completed three running protocols: RUN100%RCP, RUN130%RCP, and RUN150%RCP.
- Neuromuscular function (voluntary and evoked contractions) and perceived exertion (tiredness, leg pain) were measured before and up to 6 hours post-exercise.
- Analysis included voluntary activation, peak force, neural drive (RMSVL/Mwamp), rate of force development (RFD), and contractile function (Qtwpot).
Main Results:
- Neuromuscular fatigue persisted for up to 6 hours post-exercise across all protocols, with voluntary activation depressed for 4 hours.
- RUN100%RCP showed a greater reduction in vastus lateralis neural drive compared to higher intensity protocols.
- RUN150%RCP resulted in greater reductions in late RFD and contractile function, alongside increased leg pain and tiredness.
- Perceived leg pain and tiredness were significantly higher following RUN150%RCP compared to RUN100%RCP.
Conclusions:
- The selection of high-intensity endurance running protocols significantly influences the degree of neuromuscular fatigue and perceived fatigability.
- Specific protocols differentially affect neural drive, muscle contractile function, and recovery duration.
- These findings are critical for designing training programs that manage fatigue and optimize performance in endurance athletes.
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