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Age-Related Changes in Muscle Fatigue Resistance in Humans

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 December 2014

K. Ming Chan ,
Asim J. Raja ,
Fay J. Strohschein  and
Katherine Lechelt
K. Ming Chan
Affiliation:
Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Division of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Asim J. Raja
Affiliation:
Division of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Fay J. Strohschein
Affiliation:
Division of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Katherine Lechelt
Affiliation:
Department of Geriatric Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Abstract

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Objective:

The goal of this study was to compare the relative contributions from the muscle and the central nervous system to muscle fatigue resistance in aging.

Methods:

Each subject carried out 90 s of sustained maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVC) of the thumb using the thenar and forearm thumb muscles. Contractile capacity of the thenar muscles was assessed through tetanic stimulation of the median nerve. Interpolated doublets delivered during an MVC represented the overall voluntary activation level while transcranial cortical stimulation with an electromagnetic stimulator was used to assess motor output upstream from the corticomotoneuronal pathway.

Results:

Nine elderly subjects [four females and five males, 70±9 years old (mean±SD)] and 10 younger subjects (five females and five males, 30±6 years old) were tested. After the fatiguing exercise, the elderly group's MVC declined by 29% as opposed to 47% in the younger group (p<0.01). The elderly group's greater fatigue resistance was accounted for by increased fatigue resistance at the muscle level as well as in the central nervous system. At least some of the decline in the central motor drive was upstream from the corticomotoneuronal pathway.

Conclusion:

The higher muscle fatigue resistance in the elderly group was attributable to differences in both the peripheral and central nervous systems.

Résumé:

RÉSUMÉ:Objectif:

Le but de cette éde éit de comparer les contributions relatives du muscle et du systè nerveux central àa réstance àa fatigue associéau vieillissement.

Méodes:

Chaque sujet a effectué0 s de contractions isoméiques volontaires maximum soutenues (CVM) du pouce en utilisant les muscles de l’énence thér et de l’avant-bras. La capacitéontractile des muscles de l’énence thér a é éluéau moyen d’une stimulation ténique du nerf méan. Des doublets interpolédévrépendant une CVM repréntaient le niveau d’activation volontaire géral alors que la stimulation corticale transcrâenne par un stimulateur éctromagnéque a é utiliséour éluer le dét moteur en amont de la voir corticomotoneuronale.

Réltats:

Neuf sujets âs {quatre femmes et cinq hommes, â moyen 70 ± 9 ans (moyenne ± DS)} et 10 sujets plus jeunes (cinq femmes et cinq hommes, â moyen 30 ± 6 ans) ont é élué Aprèl’exercice induisant la fatigue, la CVM du groupe â a diminuée seulement 29% comparé 47% dans le groupe plus jeune (<.01). La plus grande réstance àa fatigue du groupe â s’explique par une augmentation de la réstance àa fatigue au niveau musculaire ainsi que dans le systè nerveux central. Au moins une partie du déin de l’activitéotrice centrale éit en amont de la voie corticomotoneuronale.

Conclusion:

La plus grande réstance àa fatigue musculaire dans le groupe â éit attribuable àes diffénces tant dans le systè nerveux péphéque que dans le systè nerveux central.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences , Volume 27 , Issue 3 , August 2000 , pp. 220 - 228
Copyright
Copyright © The Canadian Journal of Neurological 2000

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