Abstract
BackgroundLocomotor muscle fatigue (LMMF) and exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) are common conditions experienced during long-distance running due to the pooled effect of mechanical and metabolic strain on the locomotor muscles. However, little is known about the instant effects of combined LMMF and EIMD on pacing behaviour and performance during the decisive final stages of ‘real-world’ long-distance running events.MethodsTwenty-two highly trained runners (11 females) completed two maximal self-paced 20-km treadmill time trials in a counterbalanced crossover design: (A) in a tapered condition and (B) with LMMF and EIMD. Indicators of muscle damage, muscle metabolic strain, and endocrinological stress were assessed to investigate the physiological effects, and a three-dimensional framework of perceived fatigability was applied to investigate the perceptual effects of running with LMMF and EIMD on performance fatigability.ResultsLMMF and EIMD caused restrictions in work capacity and medium increases in blood leucocyte and neutrophil count, interleukin-6, and cortisol concentrations, collectively constituting a physiological milieu likely not conducive to high performance. LMMF and EIMD further caused large increases in perceived physical strain and large decreases in valence as well as large increases and decreases in action crisis and flow state, respectively.ConclusionsUnder the constraint of amplified physical duress, findings are suggestive of heuristic and rational antecedents in the goal disengagement process. Dynamic changes in physiological and perceptual effects of LMMF and EIMD are hypothesised to underpin the observed alterations in pacing behaviour and performance fatigability during long-distance running. The applied three-dimensional framework provides a more comprehensive understanding of strain-perception-thinking-action coupling in centrally regulated and goal-directed exercise behaviour.
Highlights
Locomotor muscle fatigue (LMMF) and exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) are common conditions experienced during long-distance running due to the pooled effect of mechanical and metabolic strain on the locomotor muscles
Little is known about the instant effects of combined locomotor muscle fatigue (LMMF) and exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) on pacing behaviour and performance fatigability during the decisive final stages of ‘real-world’ long-distance running events
Despite the large to very large differences in anthropometric, training, and performance parameters between the sexes, there were neither significant differences in perceived fatigability and observed pacing behaviour during time trials nor in running performance after controlling for sex-dependent differences in body composition
Summary
Locomotor muscle fatigue (LMMF) and exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) are common conditions experienced during long-distance running due to the pooled effect of mechanical and metabolic strain on the locomotor muscles. Unaccustomed muscular exertion during training for, and competition in, prolonged endurance events can result in significant locomotor muscle fatigue (LMMF) and exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) [1]. Activities involving muscle-lengthening contractions such as running are more likely to induce muscle damage due to high muscular strain coinciding with low neuromuscular recruitment. EIMD occurs in activities predominantly involving muscle shortening contractions such as swimming and cycling. EIMD is a commonly experienced condition in long-distance running events characterised by a pooled effect of mechanical and metabolic strain on skeletal muscle injury [1, 4,5,6]
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