Changes in movement final position associated with agonist and antagonist muscle fatigue

Slobodan Jaric, Suzana Blesic, Sladjan Milanovic, Sasa Radovanovic, Milos Ljubisavljevic, Radmila Anastasijevic

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

36 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We have tested the hypothesis that agonist and antagonist muscle fatigue could affect the final position of rapid, discrete movements. Six subjects performed consecutive elbow flexion and extension movements between two targets, with their eyes closed prior to, and after fatiguing the elbow extensor muscles. The results demonstrate that elbow extension movements performed in the post-test period systematically undershot the final position as compared to pre-test movements. However, attainment of the aimed final position in elbow flexion movements was unaffected by fatiguing of the extensor muscles. Undershoot of the final position obtained in extension movements was associated with agonist muscle fatigue, a result that was expected from the point of view of current motor control theories, and that could be explained by a reduced ability of the shortening muscle to exert force. On the other hand, the absence of the expected overshoot of the final position when the antagonist is fatigued, indicates the involvement of various reflex and/or central mechanisms operating around the stretched muscle that could contribute to returning the limb to the standard final position after a brief prominent overshoot.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)467-471
Number of pages5
JournalEuropean Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology
Volume80
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 1999
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Fatigue
  • Human
  • Movement
  • Muscle
  • Position

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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