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Effects of fatiguing isometric and isotonic exercise on resisted and unresisted reaction time components

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Summary

Fractionated resisted and unresisted RT for a knee-extension task was assessed on 12 male subjects over a 10-day treatment period. The first 4 days were baseline days and were designed to stabilize all RT values as well as strength measures. For the next 6 days the subjects were alternately administered isometric and isotonic exercise designed to fatigue the quadriceps musculature. Although significant strength decrements were manifested for both isometric exercise (57%) and isotonic exercise (35%), no changes were shown in the unresisted fractionated RT components. Conversely all resisted RT changes were manifested in the muscular component suggesting a peripheral site for neuromuscular fatigue.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Education, University of Maryland, 20742, College Park, Maryland, USA

    Alfred F. Morris

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  1. Alfred F. Morris
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The author gratefully acknowledges the help of Dr. W. Kroll of the University of Massachusetts at various stages of this study.

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Morris, A.F. Effects of fatiguing isometric and isotonic exercise on resisted and unresisted reaction time components. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 37, 1–11 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421593

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00421593

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