Acute changes in motor unit behavior to fatiguing isometric contractions with blood flow restriction in healthy individuals
Abstract
The behavior of motor units during high-intensity fatiguing contractions with limited oxygen supply is poorly investigated. Here, we show that during fatiguing exercise with blood flow restriction, motor units are recruited at lower force levels with inhibition of relatively lower-threshold motor units and increased activity of relatively higher-threshold motor units. These changes in motor unit behavior might represent an acute neural adaptation to produce force during high-intensity contractions with limited oxygen supply.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Muscle activation and electromyography studies
Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Journal of Applied Physiology
- Publisher
- American Physiological Society
- Volume
- 140
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 564–576
- Publication date
- 16 January 2026
- Language
- EN