Prolonged cycling exercise alters neural control strategy, irrespective of carbohydrate dose ingested

Abstract

Fatigue during endurance exercise becomes more central vs. peripheral in origin, as duration increases. 1 This shift forms part of an overarching pacing strategy governing skeletal muscle recruitment to maintain homeostasis in an attempt to delay fatigue. 2 A relationship between changes in central motor output and peripheral mechanisms of muscle fatigue has been theorized, such that increased motor unit firing rate can partially compensate for peripheral contractile fatigue, as has been illustrated by increased electromyographic activity during submaximal contractions to fatigue. 3 Fatigue during prolonged exercise results in diminished force generating capacity of working muscles 4 ;

Enhanced skeletal muscle contractile function and corticospinal excitability precede strength and architectural adaptations during lower-limb resistance training

“…Stimulation of the peripheral femoral nerve was conducted by attaching a self-adhesive surface electrode (cathode) lateral to the femoral artery, high over the femoral triangle, and anode over the gluteus maximus (Newell et al 2021 ). Participants applied constant pressure to the cathode using a custom-built spring-loaded algometer to maintain adequate electrode–skin interface; participants were able to maintain consistent pressure on the cathode and reported no difficulties in applying pressure at rest or during contraction.…”