Vibratory stimuli are thought to have the potential to promote neural and/or muscular (re)conditioning. This has been well described for whole-body vibration (WBV), which is commonly used as a training method to improve strength and/or functional abilities. Yet, this technique may present some limitations, especially in clinical settings where patients are unable to maintain an active position during the vibration exposure. Thus, a local vibration (LV) technique, which consists of applying portable vibrators directly over the tendon or muscle belly without active contribution from the participant, may present an alternative to WBV. The purpose of this narrative review is (1) to provide a comprehensive overview of the literature related to the acute and chronic neuromuscular changes associated with LV, and (2) to show that LV training may be an innovative and efficient alternative method to the 'classic' training programs, including in the context of muscle deconditioning prevention or rehabilitation. An acute LV application (one bout of 20-60 min) may be considered as a significant neuromuscular workload, as demonstrated by an impairment of force generating capacity and LV-induced neural changes. Accordingly, it has been reported that a training period of LV is efficient in improving muscular performance over a wide range of training (duration, number of session) and vibration (frequency, amplitude, site of application) parameters. The functional improvements are principally triggered by adaptations within the central nervous system. A model illustrating the current research on LV-induced adaptations is provided.

In recent years, there has been a significant expansion in female participation in endurance (road and trail) running. The often reported sex differences in maximal oxygen uptake (VO 2max ) are not the only differences between sexes during prolonged running. The aim of this narrative review was thus to discuss sex differences in running biomechanics, economy (both in fatigue and non-fatigue conditions), substrate utilization, muscle tissue characteristics (including ultrastructural muscle damage), neuromuscular fatigue, thermoregulation and pacing strategies. Although males and females do not differ in terms of running economy or endurance (i.e. percentage VO 2max sustained), sex-specificities exist in running biomechanics (e.g. females have greater non-sagittal hip and knee joint motion compared to males) that can be partly explained by anatomical (e.g. wider pelvis, larger femur-tibia angle, shorter lower limb length relative to total height in females) differences. Compared to males, females also show greater proportional area of type I fibres, are more able to use fatty acids and preserve carbo-hydrates during prolonged exercise, demonstrate a more even pacing strategy and less fatigue following endurance running exercise. These differences confer an advantage to females in ultra-endurance performance, but other factors (e.g. lower O 2 carrying capacity, greater body fat percentage) counterbalance these potential advantages, making females outperforming males a rare exception. The present literature review also highlights the lack of sex comparison in studies investigating run-ning biomechanics in fatigue conditions and during the recovery process.

Purpose Ultramarathon running includes two main types of events: single-stage race (SSR) and multistage races (MSR). Direct comparison of neuromuscular fatigue and recovery after SSR versus MSR race of comparable distance and elevation has never been performed. The aim of this study was to assess neuromuscular fatigue and recovery after two ultramarathons of equal distance performed either (i) in a single stage or (ii) in four successive days. Methods Thirty-one runners participated in the study: 17 ran 169 km in a single-stage race and 14 performed around 40 km·d−1 over 4 d. The two races were performed on the same course. Neuromuscular function was tested before (PRE), after (POST), and 2 (D + 2), 5 (D + 5) and 10 (D + 10) days after the races. Neuromuscular function was evaluated on both knee extensors (KE) and plantar flexors (PF) with voluntary and evoked contractions using electrical (femoral and tibial, respectively) nerve stimulation. Results Reduction of voluntary activation measured in the KE was greater (i.e., central fatigue) for SSR than MSR directly after the race (−23% vs −7%), P < 0.01). Reductions in evoked mechanical KE and PF responses on relaxed muscle (i.e., peripheral fatigue) of both KE and PF took longer to recover in MSR than in SSR. Conclusions Performing prolonged running exercise over several days, each separated by rest, elicits more prolonged impairments in contractile function compared with single-stage ultramarathon, whereas single-stage mountain ultramarathon ran on the same course is associated with greater central fatigue.

Introduction: Females have been shown to experience less neuromuscular fatigue than males in knee extensors (KE) and less peripheral fatigue in plantar flexors (PF) following ultra-trail running, but it is unknown if these differences exist for shorter trail running races and whether this may impact running economy. The purpose of this study was to characterize sex differences in fatigability over a range of running distances and to examine possible differences in the postrace alteration of the cost of running (Cr).Methods: Eighteen pairs of males and females were matched by performance after completing different races ranging from 40 to 171 km, divided into SHORT vs LONG races (< 60 and > 100 km, respectively). NM function and Cr were tested before and after each race. NM function was evaluated on both KE and PF with voluntary and evoked contractions using electrical nerve (KE and PF) and transcranial magnetic (KE) stimulation. Oxygen uptake, respiratory exchange ratio and ventilation were measured on a treadmill and used to calculate Cr.Results: Compared to males, females displayed a smaller decrease in maximal strength in KE (−36% vs −27%, respectively, p < 0.01), independent of race distance. In SHORT only, females displayed less peripheral fatigue in PF compared to males (Δ peak twitch: −10% vs −24%, respectively, p < 0.05). Cr increased similarly in males and females.Conclusion: Females experience less neuromuscular fatigue than men following both 'classic' and 'extreme' prolonged running exercises but this does not impact the degradation of the energy cost of running.

Local vibration (LV) has been recently validated as an efficient training method to improve muscle strength. Understanding the acute effects may help elucidate the mechanism(s). This study aimed to investigate the effects of a single bout of prolonged LV on knee extensor force production and corticospinal responsiveness of vastus lateralis (VL) and rectus femoris (RF) muscles in healthy young and old adults. Across two visits, 23 adult subjects (20–75 years old) performed pre- and post-test measurements, separated by 30-min of either rest (control; CON) or LV. Maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) force was assessed and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to evaluate cortical voluntary activation (VATMS) as well as the motor evoked potential (MEP) and silent period (SP). In 11 young adults, thoracic electrical stimulation was used to assess the thoracic motor evoked potential (TMEP). Although MVC decreased after both CON (−6.3 ± 4.4%, p = 0.01) and LV (−12.9 ± 7.7%, p < 0.001), the MVC loss was greater after LV (p = 0.001). Normalized maximal electromyographic (EMG) activity decreased after LV for both VL (−25.1 ± 10.7%) and RF (−20.9 ± 16.5%; p < 0.001), while it was unchanged after CON (p = 0.32). For RF, the TMEP and MEP/TMEP ratio decreased (p = 0.01) and increased (p = 0.01) after LV, respectively. Both measures were unchanged for VL (p = 0.27 and p = 0.15, respectively). No changes were reported for TMS-related parameters. These results confirm our hypothesis that modulations within the central nervous system would accompany the significant reduction of maximal voluntary force. A reduced motoneuron excitability seems to explain the decreased MVC after prolonged LV, as suggested by reductions in maximal EMG (all subjects) and TMEP area (data from 11 young subjects). A concomitant increased cortical excitability seems to compensate for lower excitability at the spinal level.