Fatigue Test
The local muscle fatigue test was developed as a diagnostic tool for more accurate determination of the ratio between exercise and rest time during an exercise . The test enables us to accurately determine the optimum duration of the rest period between exercises and, by doing so, replace the traditional pulse or lactate-determined rest.
There are two types of the local muscle fatigue test-one is used for endurance exercises
-the other is used in strength and power training
Test description:
First, some initial measurements are taken to determine the initial muscle status. Than, we use specific protocol of electrical stimulation (intermittent stimulation) to tire the indicator muscle – this phase typically lasts about 7 minutes. Finally, we measure muscle status every 10 seconds for 10 minutes. Here, we can observe the rate of muscle recovery. From the rate of the muscle recovery we can accurately determine the optimum rest period interval. This information is obtained by monitoring the muscle recovery process, and determining the length of time after which the fast muscle fibres are reactivated – the test requires laboratory conditions.
Another form of the test allows us to monitor the recovery process of indicator muscles during weightlifting training. Here, the muscle tiring is reached by normal training routine – this test doesn’t necessarily request laboratory conditions and can be done at the training location.
Graph 2: The blue points on the graph represent the value of activation level at each separate measurement, taken every 10 seconds. The procedure of the test enables us the observation of muscle recovery in time.
Graph 3: In addition to the activation level, the structure of activation is also very important. We get accurate information about the structure of activation by observing the contraction times of the fatigued muscle. We can see that immediately after the fatiguing protocol, the fast twitch fibres are switched off (contraction times are much longer).
The purpose of the test is to monitor the effects of the training and adaptation to fatigue in order to:
-determine the optimum ratio between the muscle load and the rest period during endurance and strength training
-monitor the training over a longer period of time
-determine the optimum load in sets
-determine the load on different muscle groups
-develop the contractile properties of the muscles in mezzo-cycles
The benefits of the TMG Local Muscle Fatigue Test:
-TMG measurement is harmless, and it can be done on the field in between the intervals. The results are available immediately after the measurement is taken.
-TMG monitoring prevents over training and enables us to optimise the training cycle. By taking into consideration the recommended optimum rest-period length, an athlete can develop the weakest muscle in the kinematical chain. The development of these muscles often lead to success.
The TMG method is based on direct measurements which enable us to evaluate the muscle properties specific for each sport (i.e. the weakest part of the system) and they can be crucial for reaching the winning results. In comparison, the lactate measurement gives us only an estimation of muscle fatigue because the method is indirect.
In alactate type of training, the TMG method enables us to determine the optimum rest period length very precisely with the accuracy of under 15 seconds.
