RECOVERY OF DYNAMIC MUSCLE FUNCTION FOLLOWING ISOKINETIC FATIGUE TESTING

This study was designed to evaluate recovery of dynamic muscle functio n following muscle fatigue produced by isokinetic testing. Sixteen phy sically active males (age = 29.2) performed fatigue and recovery tests on an isokinetic dynamometer (KIN-COM 500H). The fatigue test involve d concentric contractions of the quadriceps femoris performed until fo rce output fell below 50% MVC for 3 consecutive contractions. This tes t was repeated 3 times, with 1 minute rest between sets. Recovery of f orce output was measured during the following 8 minutes. Following pos t hoc analysis, subjects were grouped into 1 of 3 groups based on thei r time to recovery of 80% MVC; Recovery immediately following fatigue exercise (Group 1), between 3 and 6 minutes (Group 2), or no recovery during the 8 minute period (Group 3). Analysis revealed a significant decline in peak force between bouts of a three-bout fatigue test for G roups 2 and 3 (p < 0.001), and no decline in Group 1. There was a sign ificant relationship between decline in force output and time to recov ery. Thus, subjects developing a greater amount of muscle fatigue took longer to recover following this isokinetic test. It was concluded th at an isokinetic fatigue test to 50% MVC, repeated 3 times, is an appr opriate fatigue generating protocol for most active males; that recove ry time following isokinetic fatigue exercise varies among active male s; and recovery may be directly related to decline in force output bet ween bouts of a three-bout fatigue test.