| Repetitive maximal eccentric contractions can increase muscle damage and fatigue, leading to reduction in task performance, muscles soreness and increased risk of injury. Therefore, it is important to understand the time course of neuromuscular fatigue and recovery from eccentric exercise. Previous research has indicated that the magnitude of sex differences in neuromuscular fatigue differs due to a combination of physiological and task related variables. The purpose of this study was to compare both central and peripheral mechanisms of fatigue and recovery in young men and women for a 48 hour period following maximal eccentric contractions of the knee extensor muscles. We found that both men and women fatigued following the eccentric contractions, and did not recover most task measures by 48 hours. However, there were no sex differences in relative fatigue or recovery patterns of task measures. This finding stresses the importance of considering muscle groups, task, and sex when designing and implementing eccentric exercise protocols and rehabilitation methods. |
