Quantitation of progressive muscle fatigue during dynamic leg exercise in humans

There is virtually no published information on muscle fatigue, defined as a gradual decline in force-generating capacity, during conventional dynamic (D) leg exercise. To quantitate progression of fatigue, we developed 1) a model featuring integration of maximal voluntary static contraction (MVC) of knee extension (KE) muscles with ongoing DKE and 2) a device that allows frequent rapid transfer between DKE isolated to the quadriceps femoris muscles and measurement of KE MVC. Eight healthy men performed graded and submaximal constant work rate one-leg DKE to exhaustion while seated. Work rate, a product of a contraction rate (1 Hz), force measured at the ankle, and distance of ankle movement from 90 degrees to 150 degrees of KE, was precisely controlled. Lack of rise in myoelectric activity in biceps femoris of the active leg during DKE and MVC was consistent with restriction of muscle action to quadriceps femoris. The slope of the linear relationship between O2 uptake and work rate was 13.7 ml O2/W (r = 0.93). This slope and the increase of heart rate relative to increasing work intensity agreed with published values for D leg exercise. Test-retest values for O2 uptake were similar (P > 0.05) for matched DKE work rates. To track fatigue, MVC (90 degrees knee angle) was performed every 2 min of DKE. After 4 min of DKE at work rates corresponding to (mean +/- SE) 66 +/- 2, 78 +/- 2, and 100% of peak DKE O2 uptake, MVC fell to 95 +/- 3, 90 +/- 5, and 65 +/- 7%* of MVC of rested muscle, respectively (*P < 0.01 from previous work rates). Virtually identical declines in MVC were observed by the end of graded work rate DKE and submaximal constant work rate DKE tests. Quantitation of progressive muscle fatigue during D leg exercise provides a framework to study the effects of a variety of interventions on the fatigue process and may permit unique insights into the involved mechanisms.