Knee extensor fatigability after bedrest for 8 weeks with and without countermeasure
Corresponding Author
Edwin R. Mulder PhD
Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The NetherlandsSearch for more papers by this authorWolfgang M. Kuebler MD, PhD
Institute of Physiology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorKarin H. L. Gerrits PhD
Institute for Fundamental and Clinical Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorJoern Rittweger MD, PhD
Institute for Biophysical and Clinical Research into Human Movement, Manchester Metropolitan University, Cheshire, United Kingdom
Search for more papers by this authorDieter Felsenberg MD, PhD
Center for Muscle and Bone Research, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorDick F. Stegeman PhD
Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorArnold De Haan PhD
Institute for Fundamental and Clinical Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Edwin R. Mulder PhD
Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The NetherlandsSearch for more papers by this authorWolfgang M. Kuebler MD, PhD
Institute of Physiology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorKarin H. L. Gerrits PhD
Institute for Fundamental and Clinical Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorJoern Rittweger MD, PhD
Institute for Biophysical and Clinical Research into Human Movement, Manchester Metropolitan University, Cheshire, United Kingdom
Search for more papers by this authorDieter Felsenberg MD, PhD
Center for Muscle and Bone Research, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
Search for more papers by this authorDick F. Stegeman PhD
Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorArnold De Haan PhD
Institute for Fundamental and Clinical Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
We analyzed the effects of gravitational unloading on muscular fatigability and the effectiveness of resistive vibration exercise to counteract these changes. Changes in knee extensor fatigability as a consequence of 8 weeks of horizontal bedrest with or without daily resistive vibration exercise were evaluated in 17 healthy male volunteers. Bedrest increased fatigability (% decrease in maximal voluntary isometric torque per minute exercise) from −7.2 ± 0.5 to −10.2 ± 1.0%/min (P < 0.05), which was accompanied by a decline (of 52.0 ± 3.7%, P < 0.05) in muscle blood flow. Daily resistive vibration exercise training during bedrest prevented increases in fatigability (from −10.8 ± 1.8 to −8.4 ± 1.6%/min, P < 0.05), and mitigated the reduction in blood flow (decline of 26.1 ± 5.1%, P < 0.05). Daily resistive exercise may thus be suggested as an effective countermeasure during spaceflight and illness-related prolonged bedrest to combat the detrimental changes in muscle endurance that result from gravitational unloading. Muscle Nerve, 2007
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