Neuromuscular Activity during Cycling Performance in Hot/Dry and Hot/Humid Conditions

To determine the relationships between limiting factors and neuromuscular activity during a self-paced 20-km cycling time trial and evaluate the effect of environmental conditions on fatigue indices. Methods: Ten endurance-trained and heat-acclimated athletes performed in three conditions (ambient t...

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Main Authors: Michelle Baillot, Olivier Hue, Trong Than Tran, Sophie Antoine-Jonville
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-10-01
Series:Life
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/11/1149
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author Michelle Baillot
Olivier Hue
Trong Than Tran
Sophie Antoine-Jonville
author_facet Michelle Baillot
Olivier Hue
Trong Than Tran
Sophie Antoine-Jonville
author_sort Michelle Baillot
collection DOAJ
description To determine the relationships between limiting factors and neuromuscular activity during a self-paced 20-km cycling time trial and evaluate the effect of environmental conditions on fatigue indices. Methods: Ten endurance-trained and heat-acclimated athletes performed in three conditions (ambient temperature, relative humidity): HUMID (30 °C, 90%), DRY (35 °C, 46%) and NEUTRAL (22 °C, 55%). Voluntary muscular contractions and electromagnetic stimulations were recorded before and after the time trials to assess fatigue. The data on performance, temperature, heat storage, electromyogram, heart rate and rating of perceived exertion data were analyzed. Results: Performance was impaired in DRY and HUMID compared with NEUTRAL environment (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The force developed by the vastus lateral muscle during stimulation of the femoral nerve remained unchanged across conditions. The percentage of integrated electromyogram activity, normalized by the value attained during the pre-trial maximal voluntary contraction, decreased significantly throughout the trial only in HUMID condition (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Neuromuscular activity in peripheral skeletal muscle started to fall from the 11th km in HUMID and the 15th km in DRY condition, although core temperature did not reach critical values. Conclusions: These alterations suggest that afferences from core/skin temperature regulate the central neural motor drive, reducing the active muscle recruited during prolonged exercise in the heat in order to prevent the system from hyperthermia.
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spelling doaj.art-cd86e5aa8dce496c9ee83e6edc8fd1e72023-11-23T00:03:32ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292021-10-011111114910.3390/life11111149Neuromuscular Activity during Cycling Performance in Hot/Dry and Hot/Humid ConditionsMichelle Baillot0Olivier Hue1Trong Than Tran2Sophie Antoine-Jonville3Laboratoire ACTES, UPRES-EA 3596 UFR-STAPS, Université des Antilles, 97157 Pointe à Pitre, Guadeloupe, FranceLaboratoire ACTES, UPRES-EA 3596 UFR-STAPS, Université des Antilles, 97157 Pointe à Pitre, Guadeloupe, FranceDepartment of Physical Education, University of Economics-Technology for Industries, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi 11019, VietnamLaboratoire ACTES, UPRES-EA 3596 UFR-STAPS, Université des Antilles, 97157 Pointe à Pitre, Guadeloupe, FranceTo determine the relationships between limiting factors and neuromuscular activity during a self-paced 20-km cycling time trial and evaluate the effect of environmental conditions on fatigue indices. Methods: Ten endurance-trained and heat-acclimated athletes performed in three conditions (ambient temperature, relative humidity): HUMID (30 °C, 90%), DRY (35 °C, 46%) and NEUTRAL (22 °C, 55%). Voluntary muscular contractions and electromagnetic stimulations were recorded before and after the time trials to assess fatigue. The data on performance, temperature, heat storage, electromyogram, heart rate and rating of perceived exertion data were analyzed. Results: Performance was impaired in DRY and HUMID compared with NEUTRAL environment (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The force developed by the vastus lateral muscle during stimulation of the femoral nerve remained unchanged across conditions. The percentage of integrated electromyogram activity, normalized by the value attained during the pre-trial maximal voluntary contraction, decreased significantly throughout the trial only in HUMID condition (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Neuromuscular activity in peripheral skeletal muscle started to fall from the 11th km in HUMID and the 15th km in DRY condition, although core temperature did not reach critical values. Conclusions: These alterations suggest that afferences from core/skin temperature regulate the central neural motor drive, reducing the active muscle recruited during prolonged exercise in the heat in order to prevent the system from hyperthermia.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/11/1149thermoregulationheat losshot/humid climateelectromyogramaerobic exercise
spellingShingle Michelle Baillot
Olivier Hue
Trong Than Tran
Sophie Antoine-Jonville
Neuromuscular Activity during Cycling Performance in Hot/Dry and Hot/Humid Conditions
Life
thermoregulation
heat loss
hot/humid climate
electromyogram
aerobic exercise
title Neuromuscular Activity during Cycling Performance in Hot/Dry and Hot/Humid Conditions
title_full Neuromuscular Activity during Cycling Performance in Hot/Dry and Hot/Humid Conditions
title_fullStr Neuromuscular Activity during Cycling Performance in Hot/Dry and Hot/Humid Conditions
title_full_unstemmed Neuromuscular Activity during Cycling Performance in Hot/Dry and Hot/Humid Conditions
title_short Neuromuscular Activity during Cycling Performance in Hot/Dry and Hot/Humid Conditions
title_sort neuromuscular activity during cycling performance in hot dry and hot humid conditions
topic thermoregulation
heat loss
hot/humid climate
electromyogram
aerobic exercise
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/11/11/1149
work_keys_str_mv AT michellebaillot neuromuscularactivityduringcyclingperformanceinhotdryandhothumidconditions
AT olivierhue neuromuscularactivityduringcyclingperformanceinhotdryandhothumidconditions
AT trongthantran neuromuscularactivityduringcyclingperformanceinhotdryandhothumidconditions
AT sophieantoinejonville neuromuscularactivityduringcyclingperformanceinhotdryandhothumidconditions