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Obesity-related differences in neuromuscular fatigue in adolescent girls

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of obesity on neuromuscular fatigue in adolescent girls.

Methods

Twelve lean (13.6 ± 0.8 years) and 12 obese (13.9 ± 0.9 years) girls repeated 5-s maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) of the knee extensors until the generated torque reached 55 % of its initial value. Magnetic stimulations were delivered to the femoral nerve every five MVCs to follow the course of voluntary activation (VA) and potentiated twitch torque (Qtwpot).

Results

Torque reached 55 % of its initial value after 52.6 ± 20.4 and 74.9 ± 22.8 repetitions in obese and lean girls, respectively (p < 0.01). Furthermore, the decline of VA was smaller in obese girls (p < 0.001). In contrast, Qtwpot decreased to a greater extent in obese girls (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Obese girls fatigue faster than their lean counterparts. The peripheral factors mainly account for fatigue in obese girls, whereas central factors are mainly involved in lean girls.

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Abbreviations

APHV:

Age from peak height velocity

BMI:

Body mass index

BF:

Body fat

DXA:

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry

EMG:

Electromyography

FFM:

Fat-free mass

KE:

Knee extensors

MVC:

Maximal voluntary contraction

M-wave:

Compound action potential amplitude

Qtwpot :

Potentiated twitch torque

RF:

Rectus femoris

VA:

Voluntary activation

VL:

Vastus lateralis

VM:

Vastus medialis

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Acknowledgments

This project was funded by a grant of the Auvergne Regional Council (New Researcher Program 2012—Vincent Martin).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. EA 3533, Laboratory of Metabolic Adaptations During Exercise in Physiological and Pathological Conditions (AME2P), Clermont Auvergne University, Blaise Pascal University, BP 10448, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    Sebastian Garcia-Vicencio, Vincent Martin, Virginie Kluka & Sébastien Ratel

  2. Clermont University Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    Charlotte Cardenoux, Anne-Gaëlle Jegu & Emmanuel Coudeyre

  3. MECSS Tza Nou, La Bourboule, France

    Anne-Véronique Fourot

Authors
  1. Sebastian Garcia-Vicencio
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  2. Vincent Martin
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  3. Virginie Kluka
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  4. Charlotte Cardenoux
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  5. Anne-Gaëlle Jegu
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  6. Anne-Véronique Fourot
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  7. Emmanuel Coudeyre
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  8. Sébastien Ratel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sébastien Ratel.

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Conflict of interest

The authors report no conflict of interest. A funding from the Auvergne Regional Council (New Researcher Program 2012—Vincent Martin) was received for this project. This work is known to and agreed by the co-authors identified on the manuscript’s title page. This work required more than six people, because of clinical examination (physician or pediatrician), recruitment of volunteers, experimental procedures, statistical analysis and data analysis.

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Communicated by Jean-René Lacour.

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Garcia-Vicencio, S., Martin, V., Kluka, V. et al. Obesity-related differences in neuromuscular fatigue in adolescent girls. Eur J Appl Physiol 115, 2421–2432 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3222-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3222-9

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