Exercise Training Aerobic Exercise - 2329 Words

INTRODUCTION: During exercise training, such as weight lifting or cycling, the muscles produce varying forces. Maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) is dependent on the training status of the individual, age, sex, heredity, disease/injury as well as the type of activity being performed [1]. Exercise can be categorized into two separate terms, anaerobic and aerobic activity. During aerobic exercise, such as endurance activities, slow-twitch (type 1) muscle fibers are recruited, which contain a large supply of myoglobin, mitochondria and blood capillaries, and are therefore resistant to fatigue [2]. The other type of exercise is anaerobic, which utilizes fast-twitch (type II) muscle fibers for strength, speed and power [2]. Muscular†¦show more content†¦This is known as ‘central fatigue’ and becomes apparent when there is a decrease in the amount of functioning motor units or a decline in motor unit firing rate [1]. Another term known as ‘peripheral fatigue’ is related to the inhibition of excitation contraction coupling, which affects the transmission of the action potential across the neuromuscular junction to the transverse tubules (T-tubules) [1]. In order to examine fatigue during the endurance test, we will use force and electromyography (EMG) measurements. For this particular lab, muscular strength, fatigue and endurance were measured by performing isometric forearm contractions. The purpose of this lab was to determine what happens to MVC during a muscle fatigue test and 4 â€Å"recovery† contractions; in addition, various differences between the generation of maximal force and the maintenance of MVC during the endurance test were also established among the subjects. Another reason for this lab was to examine the relationship between the subject characteristics, such as gender and training status, and their performance during both maximal force production and the endurance test. It is predicted that the results will show a decrease in MVC after the subject completes the muscle fatigue test as well as an increase in MVC during the recovery process. It is also anticipated that the male subjects will generate higher force values in comparison to the female participants due to increased muscle