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01-09-2010 | Review Article

Muscle fatigue: from observations in humans to underlying mechanisms studied in intact single muscle fibres

Authors: Nicolas Place, Takashi Yamada, Joseph D. Bruton, Håkan Westerblad

Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology | Issue 1/2010

Abstract

Prolonged dynamic exercise and sustained isometric contractions induce muscle fatigue, as manifested by decreased performance and a reduction in the maximum voluntary contraction force. Studies with non-invasive measurements in exercising humans show that mechanisms located beyond the sarcolemma are important in the fatigue process. In this review, we describe probable cellular mechanisms underlying fatigue-induced changes in excitation–contraction (E–C) coupling occurring in human muscle fibres during strenuous exercise. We use fatigue-induced changes observed in intact single muscle fibres, where force and cellular Ca²⁺ handling can be directly measured, to explain changes in E–C coupling observed in human muscle during exercise.

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Title: Muscle fatigue: from observations in humans to underlying mechanisms studied in intact single muscle fibres
Authors: Nicolas Place
Takashi Yamada
Joseph D. Bruton
Håkan Westerblad
Publication date: 01-09-2010
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology / Issue 1/2010
Print ISSN: 1439-6319
Electronic ISSN: 1439-6327
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1480-0

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Muscle fatigue: from observations in humans to underlying mechanisms studied in intact single muscle fibres

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