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Neural and muscular adjustments following repeated running sprints

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Abstract

This study aimed to reveal the neural and muscular adjustments following a repeated-sprint (RS) running exercise. Sixteen subjects performed a series of neuromuscular tests before, immediately after and 30 min (passive recovery) post-RS exercise (12 × 40 m sprints interspaced by 30 s of passive recovery). Sprint times significantly lengthened over repetitions (+17% from the first to the last sprint; P < 0.05). After RS running exercise, maximal voluntary contraction torque of the plantar flexors (−11 ± 7.3%), muscle activation (twitch interpolation) (−2.7 ± 3.4%) and soleus maximal M-wave amplitude (−20 ± 17%) were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced but returned close to baseline after 30 min. Both soleus EMG activity and maximal Hoffmann reflex normalized with respect to M-wave amplitude did not change during the whole experiment. From pre- to post-RS exercise, evoked twitch response was characterized by lower peak torque and maximal rate of torque development (−13 and −11%, respectively, P < 0.05), but was not different from baseline after recovery. Peak tetanus at 20 and 80 Hz were 17 and 8% lower (P < 0.05) in the fatigued state, respectively. Acute muscle fatigue induced by RS running exercise is mainly peripheral as the short-term (30 min) recovery pattern of plantar flexors contractile properties follows that of the voluntary force-generating capacity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire EA 2991 Efficience et Déficience Motrices, UFR STAPS, Faculté des Sciences du Sports, Université Montpellier 1, 700 Avenue du Pic Saint Loup, 34090, Montpellier, France

    Stéphane Perrey, Sébastien Racinais, Khaled Saimouaa & Olivier Girard

  2. ASPETAR, Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Research and Education Centre, Doha, Qatar

    Sébastien Racinais & Olivier Girard

Authors
  1. Stéphane Perrey
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  2. Sébastien Racinais
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  3. Khaled Saimouaa
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  4. Olivier Girard
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Correspondence to Stéphane Perrey.

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Communicated by Arnold de Haan.

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Perrey, S., Racinais, S., Saimouaa, K. et al. Neural and muscular adjustments following repeated running sprints. Eur J Appl Physiol 109, 1027–1036 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1445-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1445-3

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