Fatigue and endurance of lower extremity muscles in relation to running velocity at <i>OBLA</i> in male orienteers

Abstract

At three occasions during a year, the ratio of contractional work (output)/integrated electromyographic activity (input), that is, CW/iEMG, was measured during repetitive maximum isokinetic manoeuvres for m. quadriceps and m. triceps surae in male elite orienteers. Running velocity at the onset of blood lactate accumulation (VOBLA), which was considered as a measure of running performance, and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) were analysed at each test. Type and amount of training were continuously registered. For m. quadriceps there was a decline in CW/iEMG during the first 30 manoeuvres, followed by an unchanged plateau level. In contrast, m. triceps surae showed a plateau level of virtually unaltered CW/iEMG ratio from the start to the end of the experiment. The differences might be explained by structural causes, but also by local muscle adaptation to training. The plateau level of CW/iEMG of m. quadriceps was positively correlated to VO2max. An increase in the plateau level of CW/iEMG was found for both tested muscle groups after the winter training period (mainly low intensity road running) when both VOBLA and VO2OBLA increased. During the competition period (mainly high intensity forest running), the whole group increased while some orienteers lowered their VOBLA. During this period, no changes in the plateau level of CW/iEMG of any muscle group or in VO2OBLA occurred. The changes in the plateau level of CW/iEMG might express local muscle adaptations to changes in running technique and aerobic/anaerobic demands during low intensity road running versus high intensity forest running.