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

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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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Abbreviations

CNS:

Central nervous system

E–C:

Excitation–contraction

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

MTU:

Muscle–tendon unit

MVC:

Maximum voluntary contraction

NIRS:

Near-infrared spectroscopy

PCr:

Phosphocreatine

PICs:

Persistent inward currents

sEMG:

Surface electromyography

TMS:

Transcranial magnetic stimulation

VA:

Voluntary activation

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, School of Physical Education and Sport Science, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

    Dimitrios A. Patikas

  2. Children’s Health and Exercise Research Centre, Sport and Health Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK

    Craig A. Williams

  3. Clermont Auvergne University, AME2P, F-63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    Sébastien Ratel

Authors
  1. Dimitrios A. Patikas
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  2. Craig A. Williams
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  3. Sébastien Ratel
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DP, CW, and SR wrote the manuscript. All authors read and approved the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Sébastien Ratel.

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The authors report no conflict of interest. This work is known to and agreed by the co-authors identified on the manuscript’s title page.

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Communicated by Michael Lindinger.

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Patikas, D.A., Williams, C.A. & Ratel, S. Exercise-induced fatigue in young people: advances and future perspectives. Eur J Appl Physiol 118, 899–910 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-018-3823-1

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