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Neuromuscular fatigue and potentiation following two successive high intensity resistance exercise sessions

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Abstract

Resistance exercise can result in both potentiating and fatiguing responses. These responses can acutely affect performance, which may affect subsequent exercise sessions in the same day. The purpose of this investigation was to study the acute neuromuscular responses to two high intensity training sessions in the same day. Twelve recreationally trained males performed two training sessions, each involving ten sets of five repetitions in the speed squat exercise. For the initial session (HIT-1), the barbell load was constant at 70% one repetition maximum, whereas during the second session (HIT-2), barbell load decreased if movement velocity decreased. Neuromuscular performance testing consisted of unilateral isometric knee extensor actions performed prior to the training day (PRE) and following each testing session. Prior to the sessions, subjects provided a muscle biopsy for myosin heavy chain analysis. Peak force was impaired 16.9 (9.5)% (P≈0.00; d=1.62) following HIT-1 and 19.9 (18.4)% (P≈0.00; d=1.94) following HIT-2. Initial rate of force development was depressed from PRE following HIT-1 (P≈0.00; d=1.74) and HIT-2 (P≈0.00; d=2.18); however, this was dependent on muscle fiber composition. Significant correlations existed between the change score for initial rate of force development from HIT-1 to HIT-2 and myosin heavy chain I (r= −0.60; P=0.04) and IIa (r=0.69; P=0.01) expression. Impaired neuromuscular performance following HIT-1 may occur due to low frequency fatigue. For individuals with predominantly myosin heavy chain IIa, HIT-2 appeared to induce post-activation potentiation, resulting in restoration of the initial rate of force development.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to extend their gratitude to the subjects for their effort during the strenuous training sessions. The authors would like to thank Chris Moore, Jacque Barnes, Michael Wendell, Clint Richey, Brooke Miles, Heather Watts, Michael Malone and Scott Belzer for assisting in the data collection and analysis. This project was funded in part by a grant from Numico-USA Research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Research Laboratory, University of Southern California, 1540 East Alcazar Street, CHP-155, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA

    L. Z. F. Chiu

  2. Human Performance Laboratories, The University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee, USA

    A. C. Fry, B. K. Schilling, E. J. Johnson & L. W. Weiss

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  1. L. Z. F. Chiu
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  2. A. C. Fry
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  3. B. K. Schilling
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  4. E. J. Johnson
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  5. L. W. Weiss
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Correspondence to L. Z. F. Chiu.

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Chiu, L.Z.F., Fry, A.C., Schilling, B.K. et al. Neuromuscular fatigue and potentiation following two successive high intensity resistance exercise sessions. Eur J Appl Physiol 92, 385–392 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-004-1144-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-004-1144-z

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