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Int J Sports Med 2010; 31(2): 82-88
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1243168
Training & Testing

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Effect of the Lengthening of the Protocol on the Reliability of Muscle Fatigue Indicators

L. Bosquet1 , D. Maquet2 , B. Forthomme3 , N. Nowak3 , C. Lehance4 , J.-L. Croisier3
  • 1Universite de Poitiers, Faculté des sciences du sport, Poitiers, France
  • 2University of Liege, Movement sciences, Liege, Belgium
  • 3University of Liege, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Liege, Belgium
  • 4University of Liege, Sports physiology, Liege, Belgium
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision November 3, 2009

Publication Date:
17 December 2009 (online)

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine absolute and relative reliability of fatigue measures calculated from peak torque or total work during 20, 30, 40 and 50 reciprocal maximal concentric contractions performed on an isokinetic dynamometer at 180° · s−1. Eighteen moderately active men performed 50 reciprocal maximal concentric contractions on three occasions with one 7–10 days recovery between each session. Peak torque and total work were computed for each contraction and subsequently summed to compute cumulated performance after respectively 20, 30, 40 and 50 repetitions. Muscle fatigue was determined after 20, 30, 40 and 50 repetitions by the fatigue index, the percent decrease in performance and the slope. Reliability of average peak torque or average total work was similar and was not affected by the lengthening of the protocol, although a learning effect was evident for knee flexors. Reliability of fatigue measures calculated from peak torque or total work was similar, improved with the lengthening of the protocol and was better for knee extensors. Measuring average peak torque or average total work and the slope during a protocol involving 30 maximal reciprocal concentric contractions appear to represent a better compromise between reliability and physiological interpretability of the data.

Key words

Intraclass correlation coefficient - standard error of measurement - minimum difference considered real - reproducibility

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Correspondence

Dr. Laurent Bosquet

Universite de Poitiers Faculté des sciences du sport

4 allée Jean Monnet

86000 Poitiers

France

Phone: +33 (0) 549 454 115

Fax: +33 (0) 549 453 396

Email: laurent.bosquet@gmail.com