This volume describes the current state of our knowledge on the neurobiology of muscle fatigue, with consideration also given to selected integrative cardiorespiratory mechanisms. Our charge to the authors of the various chapters was twofold: to provide a systematic review of the topic that could serve as a balanced reference text for practicing health-care professionals, teaching faculty, and pre-and postdoctoral trainees in the biomedi cal sciences; and to stimulate further experimental and theoretical work on neurobiology. Key issues are addressed in nine interrelated areas: fatigue of single muscle fibers, fatigue at the neuromuscular junction, fatigue of single motor units, metabolic fatigue studied with nuclear magnetic resonance, fatigue of the segmental motor system, fatigue involving suprasegmental mechanisms, the task dependency of fatigue mechanisms, integrative (largely cardiorespiratory) systems issues, and fatigue of adapted systems (due to aging, under-and overuse, and pathophysiology). The product is a volume that provides compre of processes that operate from the forebrain to the contractile proteins.

Inhalt

Fatigue of Single Muscle Fibers: Myofibrillar Fatigue vs. Failure of Activation; K.A.P. Edman Fatigue at the Neuromuscular Junction: Fatigue at the Neuromuscular Junction: Branch Point vs. Presynaptic vs. Postsynaptic Mechanisms; G.C. Sieck, Y.S. Prakash Fatigue of Single Motor Units: Intrinsic Properties of Motoneurons: Implications for Muscle Fatigue; A. Sawczuk, et al. Fatigue Studied with NMR Techniques: Bioenergetics and Muscle Cell Types; M.J. Kushmerick The Case for Segmental Motor Mechanisms: Variable frequency Stimulation Patterns for the Optimization of Force during Muscle Fatigue: Muscle Wisdom and the Catchlike Property; S.A. BinderMacleod The Case for Central Fatigue: Central Fatigue: Critical Issues, Quantification and Practical Implications; S.C. Gandevia, et al. Task Dependency of Fatigue Mechanisms: The Significance of Motor Unit Variability in Sustaining Mechanical Output of Muscle; A.J. Sargeant, D.A. Jones Integrative Systems Issues: Fatigue and the Design of the Respiratory System; S.L. Lindstedt, H. Hoppeler Fatigue of Adapted Systems: Overuse, Underuse and Pathophysiology: Fatigue in Adapted Systems: Overuse and Underuse Paradigms; T. Gordon 30 additional articles. Index.