Absence of gender differences in the fatigability of the forearm muscles during intermittent isometric handgrip exercise

©Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (2007) 6, 98-105
http://www.jssm.org

Joaquin U. Gonzales and Barry W. Scheuermann

Cardiopulmonary and Metabolism Research Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, The University of Toledo, Toledo,
Ohio USA

Abstract:
Previous studies have reported women to have a greater resis-
tance to fatigue than men during sustained handgrip exercise,
however, observed gender differences in fatigue has been shown
to be a function of contraction type. The purpose of the present
study was to determine if gender differences exist in forearm
muscle fatigue during intermittent handgrip contractions.
Women [n = 11, 23.5 ± 1.5 (SE) yr] and men (n = 11, 24.1 ± 1.5
yr) performed intermittent isometric handgrip contractions at a
target force of 50% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC)
for 5 s followed by 5 s rest until task failure. Rate of fatigue was
calculated from MVCs taken every 2 min during exercise, and
recovery of muscle strength was measured in 5 min increments
until 45 min post-task failure. Forearm muscle strength was less
for women than men (W: 341.5 ± 11.9 N; M: 480.2 ± 28.0 N; p
≤ 0.05). No gender difference was present in time to task failure
(W: 793.3 ± 92.5 s; M: 684.8 ± 76.3 s) or in the decrease in
muscle force generating capacity at task failure (W: -47.6 ±
1.0%; M: -49.9 ± 1.3%). Rate of muscle fatigue was found to be
similar between women and men (W: -3.6 ± 0.5 %·min-1; M: -
4.3 ± 0.6 %·min-1) and no gender difference was found in the
recovery of muscle strength following task failure. In summary,
no gender difference was found in the fatigability of the forearm
muscles during intermittent submaximal handgrip contractions,
independent of muscle strength.