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European Journal of Applied Physiology
Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology 5/2018

01-05-2018 | Invited Review

Exercise-induced fatigue in young people: advances and future perspectives

Authors: Dimitrios A. Patikas, Craig A. Williams, Sébastien Ratel

Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology | Issue 5/2018

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Abstract

Purpose

In recent decades, the interest for exercise-induced fatigue in youth has substantially increased, and the effects of growth on the peripheral (muscular) and central (neural) mechanisms underpinning differences in neuromuscular fatigue between healthy children and adults have been described more extensively. The purpose of this review is to retrieve, report, and analyse the findings of studies comparing neuromuscular fatigue between children and adults. Objective measures of the evaluation of the physiological mechanisms are discussed.

Method

Major databases (PubMed, Ovid, Scopus and Web of Science) were systematically searched and limited to English language from inception to September 2017.

Result

Collectively, the analyzed studies indicate that children experience less muscular and potentially more neural fatigue than adults. However, there are still many unknown aspects of fatigue regarding neural (supraspinal and spinal) and peripheral mechanisms that should be more thoroughly examined in children.

Conclusion

Suitable methods, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation, transcranial electrical stimulation, functional magnetic resonance imaging, near-infrared spectroscopy, tendon vibration, H-reflex, and ultrasound are recommended in the research field of fatigue in youth. By designing studies that test the fatigue effects in movements that replicate daily activities, new knowledge will be acquired. The linkage and interaction between physiological, cognitive, and psychological aspects of human performance remain to be resolved in young people. This can only be successful if research is based on a foundation of basic research focused on the mechanisms of fatigue while measuring all three above aspects.
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Metadata
Title
Exercise-induced fatigue in young people: advances and future perspectives
Authors
Dimitrios A. Patikas
Craig A. Williams
Sébastien Ratel
Publication date
01-05-2018
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Journal of Applied Physiology / Issue 5/2018
Print ISSN: 1439-6319
Electronic ISSN: 1439-6327
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-018-3823-1

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