Mechanical behavior of skeletal muscle during intermittent voluntary isometric contractions in humans

N. K. Vøllestad 1 , I. Sejersted 2 , and E. Saugen 2 1 Section for Postgraduate Studies in Health Science, and 2 Department of Physiology, National Institute of Occupational Health and University of Oslo, 0316 Oslo, Norway Received 2 January 1997; accepted in final form 15 July 1997. Vøllestad, N. K., I. Sejersted, and E. Saugen. Mechanical behavior of skeletal muscle during intermittent voluntary isometric contractions in humans. J. Appl. Physiol. 83(5): 1557-1565, 1997. Changes in contractile speed and force-fusion properties were examined during repetitive isometric contractions with the knee extensors at three different target force levels. Seven healthy subjects were studied at target force levels of 30, 45, and 60% of their maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) force. Repeated 6-s contractions followed by 4-s rest were continued until exhaustion. Contractile speed was determined for contractions elicited by electrical stimulation at 1-50 Hz given during exercise and a subsequent 27-min recovery period. Contraction time remained unchanged during exercise and recovery, except for an initial rapid shift in the twitch properties. Half relaxation time (RT 1/2 ) decreased gradually by 20-40% during exercise at 30 and 45% of MVC. In the recovery period, RT 1/2 values were not fully restored to preexercise levels. During exercise at 60% MVC, the RT 1/2 decreased for twitches and increased for the 50-Hz stimulation. In the recovery period after 60% MVC, RT 1/2 values declined toward those seen after the 30 and 45% MVC exercise. The force oscillation amplitude in unfused tetani relative to the mean force increased during exercise at 30 and 45% MVC but remained unaltered during the 60% MVC exercise. This altered force-fusion was closely associated with the changes in RT 1/2 . The faster relaxation may at least partly explain the increased energy cost of contraction reported previously for the same type of exercise. energy cost; fatigue; relaxation rate; skeletal muscle 0161-7567/97 $5.00 Copyright © 1997 the American Physiological Society