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In previous reports we have shown that in long distance running the impact acceleration on the shank increases with progressing fatigue. The aim of the present study was to test whether, in parallel to this increase, an imbalance in the activities between the ankle plantar and dorsi flexor muscles develops. The tests were made on fourteen subjects during 30 min treadmill running above their anaerobic thresholds. Respiratory data were collected to determine the anaerobic threshold speed and to indicate the progressively developing metabolic fatigue. Surface electromyogram (EMG) was monitored to indicate the changing activity of the shank muscles. In the tibialis anterior the average integrated EMG (iEMG) and the mean power frequency (MPF) significantly decreased from the beginning to the end of running. In the gastrocnemius iEMG did not change, while MPF increased during the course of running. The impact acceleration, measured by means of an accelerometer attached to the tibial tuberosity, significantly increased during the course of running. It was concluded that, with developing fatigue, an imbalance in the contraction of the shank muscles develops in parallel to an increase in shank shock acceleration. The combination of these two changes may hamper the loading balance on the tibia since the bone becomes exposed to excessive bending stresses and to higher risk of stress injury.

Exercise has a noted effect on skin blood flow and temperature. We aimed to characterize the normal skin temperature response to exercise by thermographic imaging. A study was conducted on ten healthy and active subjects (age=25.8+/-0.7 years) who were exposed to graded exercise for determination of maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max), and subsequently to constant loads corresponding to 50%, 70%, and 90% of VO2 max. The skin temperature response during 20 min of constant load exercise is characterized by an initial descending limb, an ascending limb and a quasi-steady-state period. For 50% VO2 max, the temperature decrease rate was - 0.0075+/-0.001 degrees C/s during a time interval of 390+/-47 s and the temperature increase rate was 0.0055+/-0.0031 degrees C/s during a time interval of 484+/-99 s. The level of load did not influence the temperature decrease and increase rates. In contrast, during graded load exercise, a continuous temperature decrease of -0.0049+/-0.0032 degrees C/s was observed throughout the test. In summary, the thermographic skin response to exercise is characterized by a specific pattern which reflects the dynamic balance between hemodynamic and thermoregulatory processes.

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