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Muscle Fatigue

Muscle Fatigue
Muscle Weakness
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We use the term fatigue to describe a general feeling of the overall effects of
an exercise on the body or the inability to continue with an exercise. So what
causes this sensation of fatigue? The reason has to do with several factors
including the availability of fuel for the muscles and the mechanism of
hydrogen ions and calcium in muscle cell action.

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Fuel

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Muscles require ATP (adenosine triphosphate) as an energy source. During

intense activity we rely on the anaerobic pathway but this has a limited store
(ATP/CP pathway approximately 10 seconds and the Anaerobic Lactic pathway
approximately 2 minutes). The aerobic pathway produces ATP copiously (with
the breakdown of glucose and glycogen) and requires oxygen, carried by the
blood, to support the process. The cardiovascular system is limited in its
ability to deliver blood and oxygen to the working muscles.

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Hydrogenions
The breakdown of glucose or glycogen produces lactate and hydrogen ions
(H+). If insufficient oxygen is available to the working muscles then hydrogen
ion concentrations increase and the blood and muscle become acidic. This
acidic environment start to block the nerve signals from the brain to muscle
fibres so the legs begin to feel heavy and we slow down in order to allow more
oxygen to get to the working muscles.

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Muscle Strength

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Calcium
One of the functions of calcium is to help control muscle contractions.
Researchers at the Columbia University Medical Centre, Bellinger et al. (2008)
[1]
, conducted a study which found that muscle fatigue after long intense

exercise may be caused by tiny leaks of calcium inside muscle cells. The
researchers found that after extended high intensity exercise, 3 hours of
cycling by experienced cyclists, small channels in the athlete's muscle cells
were leaking calcium. This calcium leak weakens muscle contraction and
stimulates an enzyme that attacks muscle fibres resulting in muscle fatigue.
These calcium leaks stopped after a few days rest.

Fibromyalgia

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Exercise Fatigue
Leg Weakness

Fibromyalgia is pain and stiffness in the muscles, ligaments and tendons

which may affect one part of the body or several different areas such as the
limbs, neck and back. You will have a greater risk of developing fibromyalgia if
one of your parents or siblings has the condition. It is thought fibromyalgia is
caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors work together.
Some of the symptoms are: fatigue and exhaustion, sleep disturbance, aching
and stiffness, headaches, concentration problems and irritable bowels. Any of
these symptoms can make it hard to carry out simple every day tasks which
can then make you feel frustrated and depressed.
There appears to be no simple cure for fibromyalgia, but there are ways of
managing your symptoms. Aerobic exercises, such as swimming and walking,
will reduce pain and fatigue which could help you to sleep and feel better.
For more information visit the UK Fibromyalgia Association

References
1. BELLINGER, A.M. et al. (2008) Remodeling of ryanodine receptor
complex causes "leaky" channels: A molecular mechanism for decreased
exercise capacity, The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
2008

RelatedReferences
The following references provide additional information on this topic:
FITTS,
R.
H.
(1994)
Cellular
mechanisms
of
muscle
fatigue. Physiological reviews, 74 (1), p. 49-94
EDWARDS, R. H. (1981) Human muscle function and fatigue. Human
muscle fatigue: physiological mechanisms, p. 1-18
CHAFFIN, D. B. (1973) Localized muscle fatigue-definition and
measurement. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 15
(4), p. 346-354

PageReference
If you quote information from this page in your work then the reference for
this page is:
MACKENZIE, B. (2007) Muscle Fatigue [WWW] Available from:
https://www.brianmac.co.uk/musclefatigue.htm [Accessed 29/10/2016]

RelatedPages
The following Sports Coach pages provide additional information on this topic:

Blood Pressure
Energy Pathways
Maximum Heart Rate
Physiology - Articles

Physiology - Literature Reviews

Physiology - Cardiovascular System
VO2 max
vVO2 max and tlimvVO2 max

AdditionalSourcesofInformation
For further information on this topic see the following:
BEASHEL, P. and TAYLOR, J. (1996) Advanced Studies in Physical
Education and Sport. UK: Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd.
BEASHEL, P. and TAYLOR, J. (1997) The World of Sport Examined. UK:
Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd.
BIZLEY, K. (1994) Examining Physical Education. Oxford; Heinemann
Educational Publishers
DAVIS, B. et al. (2000) Physical Education and the Study of Sport. UK:
Harcourt Publishers Ltd.
GALLIGAN, F. et al. (2000) Advanced PE for Edexcel. Oxford;
Heinemann Educational Publishers
McARDLE, W. et al. (2000) Essentials of Exercise Physiology. 2nd ed.
Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins
TORTORA, G and ANAGNOSTAKOS, N. (1990) Principles of Anatomy and
Physiology. 6th ed. USA; Harper Collins Publishers
STONE, R. and STONE, J. (1997) Atlas of Skeletal Muscles. 2nd Ed.
USA; The McGraw Hill Companies, Inc.
BLAKEY, P. (1992) The Muscle Book. UK; Bibiotek Books Ltd.

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