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Sustainability and perceptual responses during handgrip holds to failure at two fatigue thresholds

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European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Critical force (CF) provides an estimate of the asymptote of the force-duration curve and the physical working capacity at the rating of perceived exertion (PWCRPE) estimates the highest force that can be sustained without an increase in perceived exertion. Handgrip-related musculoskeletal disorders and injuries derived from sustained or repetitive motion-induced muscle fatigue are prevalent in the industrial workforce. Thus, it is important to understand the physiological mechanisms underlying performance during handgrip specific tasks to describe individual work capacities. This study examined prolonged, isometric, handgrip exercises by comparing the relative force levels, sustainability, and perceptual responses at two fatigue thresholds, CF and PWCRPE.

Methods

Ten women (26.5 ± 3.5 years) performed submaximal, isometric handgrip holds to failure (HTF) with the dominant hand at four, randomly ordered percentages (30, 40, 50, and 60%) of maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) force to determine CF and PWCRPE. Isometric handgrip HTF were performed at CF and PWCRPE. Time to task failure and RPE responses were recorded.

Results

There were no differences in the relative forces (p = 0.381) or sustainability (p = 0.390) between CF (18.9 ± 2.5% MVIC; 10.1 ± 2.7 min) and PWCRPE (19.5 ± 7.9% MVIC; 11.6 ± 8.4 min), and the RPE increased throughout both holds at CF and PWCRPE.

Conclusion

It is possible that complex physio–psychological factors may have contributed to the fatigue-induced task failure. CF and PWCRPE may overestimate the highest force output that can be maintained for an extended period of time without fatigue or perceptions of fatigue for isometric handgrip holds.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

CF:

Critical force

CR10:

Borg Category-Ratio 10

EF15 :

Estimated force for 15 minutes

EF30 :

Estimated force for 30 minutes

EMGFT :

Electromyographic fatigue threshold

ES:

Effect size for Cohen’s d

HTF:

Hold to failure

MVIC:

Maximal voluntary isometric contraction

\({\eta }_{p}^{2}\) :

Partial eta squared

PWCRPE :

Physical working capacity at rating of perceived exertion

RPE:

Rating of perceived exertion

Tlim :

Time to task failure

Wlim :

Total work performed

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the University’s Departmental Student Research Award.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion, The University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA

    Minyoung Kwak, Pasquale J. Succi, Brian Benitez & Haley C. Bergstrom

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  1. Minyoung Kwak
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  2. Pasquale J. Succi
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  3. Brian Benitez
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  4. Haley C. Bergstrom
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Correspondence to Minyoung Kwak.

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Communicated by Toshio Moritani.

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Kwak, M., Succi, P.J., Benitez, B. et al. Sustainability and perceptual responses during handgrip holds to failure at two fatigue thresholds. Eur J Appl Physiol 123, 2563–2573 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-023-05248-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-023-05248-7

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