Contribution of sensory feedback to muscle fatigue

Project Outline:

During fatiguing exercise, accumulation of metabolites in the muscle activates sensory nerve fibres that result in sensations of muscle pain and fatigue. Feedback from a fatigued muscle impairs motor performance which uses the fatigued muscle. That is, it contributes to central fatigue. Feedback from a fatigued muscle can also impair performance with other non-fatigued muscles of the same limb. Some aspects of how fatigue-related sensory feedback affects non-fatigued muscles remain in question. Studies in human participants will assess neuromuscular function with and without fatigue-related feedback.

Research questions

1. Is performance of a non-fatigued muscle reduced more by the combined feedback from two fatigued muscles than by feedback from one fatigued muscle?
2. Does feedback from a fatigued muscle increase the effort required to perform a task with a non-fatigued muscle?
3. Do the effects of fatigue-related feedback on performance continue after the end of exercise?
4. Can fatigue-related feedback impair performance when fatigue is produced by electrical muscle stimulation?

Desired Skills: This project will suit students with an interest in exercise and neuromuscular fatigue. It will require hands-on studies in human participants.

Project Area: Exercise and Sports Science

School / Research Centre / Institute : School of Medical and Health Sciences research

Supervisor(s): Professor Janet Taylor

Project level: Honours, Masters, PhD

Start date: Ongoing