Trade-Off Between Maximal Power Output and Fatigue Resistance of the Knee Extensors for Older Men

Abstract

This study investigated associations of fatigue resistance determined by an exercise-induced decrease in neuromuscular power with prefatigue neuromuscular strength and power of the knee extensors in 31 older men (65–88 years). A fatigue task consisted of 50 consecutive maximal effort isotonic knee extensions (resistance: 20% of prefatigue isometric maximal voluntary contraction torque) over a 70° range of motion. The average of the peak power values calculated from the 46th to 50th contractions during the fatigue task was normalized to the prefatigue peak power value, which was defined as neuromuscular fatigue resistance. Neuromuscular fatigue resistance was negatively associated with prefatigue maximal power output (r = −.530) but not with prefatigue maximal voluntary contraction torque (r = −.252). This result highlights a trade-off between prefatigue maximal power output and neuromuscular fatigue resistance, implying that an improvement in maximal power output might have a negative impact on neuromuscular fatigue resistance.