A New Approach to Evaluate Neuromuscular Fatigue of Extensor Elbow Muscles

Neuromuscular fatigue evaluation is widely performed on different muscles through the conventional protocol using maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) with electrical stimuli in the analyzed muscle. In an attempt to use this protocol on elbow extensor musculature, previous studies and pilot studies showed co-contraction effects from antagonist musculature during muscular stimulations. The aim of this study was to propose a new neuromuscular fatigue protocol evaluation on elbow extensor musculature. Twenty participants preformed exercises to induce central (CenFat) and peripheral fatigue (PerFat). Neuromuscular fatigue was evaluated on knee extensor muscles by a conventional protocol that provides Twitch Superimposed (TS(K)) and Twitch Potentiated (TP(K)), central and peripheral parameters respectively. For elbow extensor muscles, the protocol used sustained submaximal contraction at 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50% of MVC. The neuromuscular fatigue in upper limbs was identified by Twitch Potentiated (TP(E)) and multiple Twitch Superimposed (TS(E)) parameters. Using the relationship between MVC (%) and evoked force, the proposed protocol used several TS(E) to provide slope, y-intercept and R(2). It is proposed that slope, R(2), and y-intercept change may indicate peripheral fatigue and the identified relationship between y-intercept and R(2) may indicate central fatigue or both peripheral and central fatigue. The results were compared using the non-parametric analyzes of Friedmann and Wilcoxon and their possible correlations were verified by the Spearmann test (significance level set at p < 0.05). After PerFat a decrease in TP(E) (57.1%, p < 0.001) was found but not in any TS(E), indicating only peripheral fatigue in upper limbs. After CenFat a decrease in TP(E) (21.4%, p: 0.008) and TP(K) (20.9%, p < 0.001) were found but not in TS(K), indicating peripheral fatigue in upper and lower limbs but not central fatigue. A non-significant increase of 15.3% after CenFat and a statistical reduction (80.1%, p: 0.001) after PerFat were found by slope. Despite R(2) showing differences after both exercises (p < 0.05), it showed a recovery behavior after CenFat (p: 0.016). Although PerFat provided only peripheral fatigue, CenFat did not provide central fatigue. Considering the procedural limitations of CenFat, parameters resulting from the proposed protocol are sensitive to neuromuscular alteration, however, further studies are required.