Abstract
The mechanisms contributing to the alteration in neuromuscular function during repeated sprints have been recently documented. However, the effect of hot environment on these neuro-muscular alterations remains unclear. PURPOSE: To investigate the contributions of central and peripheral factors in the development of neuro-muscular fatigue during repeated sprints in a hot environment METHODS: Ten male subjects (23.1±3 yrs) performed two 38 min repeated sprint trails consisting of eight 6sec sprint of maximal cycling interspaced by 5 min of active recovery (1W/kg body weight.). Trails were performed in control (CON; 24°C - 24% rH) and hot (HOT; 40°C - 40% rH) environmental conditions in random order After each sprint, maximal percutaneous electrical stimulations were applied to the femoral nerve both at rest and during maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). To examine potential impairment in central drive, changes in EMG activity of the vastus lateralis muscle normalized to the M-wave amplitude (RMS/M) as well as muscle activation (VA) were quantified during MVC of knee extensors. Peripheral fatigue was assessed by examining the amplitude of the M-wave and twitch contractile properties following single stimuli. Both Core and skin temperaturs were monitored throughout by telemetric pill and patches respectively. RESULTS: RPE, HR, and skin temperature were significantly (all P< 0.05) higher in HOT compared to CON; RPE: 15±3 vs. 13±3, HR: 141±10 vs. 123±15 bpm. However core temperature, peak power production, MVC and muscle electrical activity during the MVC's or the cycling sprints was not influenced by the environmental condition in this pattern of exercise. CONCLUSION: Despite HR, RPE, and skin temperature being higher in hot than control, the body was able to produce the same power in both conditions. These findings suggest that there are no anticipatory decrements in power production when it comes to repeated sprints even if, RPE do increase in hot environment.
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