Logan Steele
Muscle fatigue is a symptom that decreases your muscles' ability to perform over time. It can be caused by many different mechanisms, ranging from the accumulation of metabolites within muscle fibres to the generation of an inadequate motor command in the motor cortex. It can also be caused by infections and illnesses, which cause muscle inflammation. Muscle fatigue is a commonly experienced phenomenon that limits athletic performance and other strenuous or prolonged activity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cause | Accumulation of metabolites within muscle fibres |
| Cause | Inadequate motor command in the motor cortex |
| Cause | Infections and illnesses |
| Cause | Muscle inflammation |
| Cause | High levels of steroids in the blood |
| Cause | Lack of iron (anaemia) |
| Definition | Exercise-induced reduction in the ability of muscle to produce force or power |
| Definition | Gradual decrease in the force capacity of muscle |
| Definition | Reduction in muscle force |
| Definition | Change in electromyographic activity |
| Definition | Exhaustion of contractile function |
| Definition | Decline in performance |
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What You'll Learn
Infections and illnesses
Fatigue is a common response of the body when fighting off infections, and is often linked to immune system activation and energy depletion. When an illness strikes, the immune system kicks into high gear, requiring significant energy. The body reallocates resources to combat pathogens, which can lead to feelings of tiredness and lethargy. During this process, inflammatory chemicals known as cytokines are released into the bloodstream, which can irritate and damage muscle tissues, causing widespread discomfort and soreness.
Some viruses can infect the muscle itself, causing weakness. This is more likely to occur in those who are otherwise unhealthy. For example, COVID-19 can cause muscle weakness in addition to other symptoms. If an illness keeps you in bed or in the hospital for an extended period, your muscles will lose strength quickly.
Chronic osteoarthritis patients can also experience muscle weakness in addition to joint stiffness. Medications, depression, and mental health issues can also cause or contribute to muscle weakness.
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Exercise
Muscle fatigue is a symptom that decreases your muscles' ability to perform over time. It can be caused by the repeated, intense use of muscles, leading to a decline in performance. Fatigue can also be caused by many different mechanisms, ranging from the accumulation of metabolites within muscle fibres to the generation of an inadequate motor command in the motor cortex. There is no global mechanism responsible for muscle fatigue, and the specific cause will depend on the task being performed.
However, it is important to note that exercise is not the only cause of muscle fatigue. Infections and illnesses are also common causes, often through muscle inflammation. For example, during a bad bout of influenza, the weakness caused by inflammation can last for several weeks. Additionally, muscle fatigue can occur during and after pregnancy due to high levels of steroids in the blood and a relative lack of iron (anaemia).
Muscle fatigue can also be influenced by various pathological conditions, including neurological, muscular, and cardiovascular disorders, as well as ageing and frailty. When you experience fatigue, the force behind your muscles' movements decreases, causing a feeling of weakness. This can impact athletic performance and other strenuous or prolonged activities.
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Ageing and frailty
Frailty is increasingly recognised as a geriatric syndrome that shares common biomedical determinants with rapid muscle fatigue. These determinants include ageing, disease, inflammation, physical inactivity, malnutrition, hormone deficiencies, subjective fatigue, and changes in neuromuscular function and structure. There is an established relationship between muscle fatigue and core elements of the cycle of frailty, such as sarcopenia, neuroendocrine dysregulation, immunologic dysfunction, muscle weakness, subjective fatigue, reduced physical activity, low gait speed, and weight loss. These relationships suggest that frailty and muscle fatigue are closely related and that low tolerance for muscular work may be an indicator of frailty phenotype. Decreased SM energy metabolism is a plausible contributor to fatigability in age-associated frailty since normal muscle function is inherently dependent on ATP and bioavailable energetic stores.
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Motor deficit
Muscle fatigue can refer to a motor deficit, which is a gradual decrease in the force capacity of a muscle. It can be measured as a reduction in muscle force, a change in electromyographic activity or an exhaustion of contractile function.
Infections and illnesses are also common causes of temporary motor deficits, usually through muscle inflammation. During and after pregnancy, high levels of steroids in the blood, along with a tendency to be relatively lacking in iron (anaemia), can also cause a feeling of muscle tiredness.
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Physiological impairments
Muscle fatigue is a symptom that decreases your muscles' ability to perform over time. It is caused by several physiological impairments, which can be specific to the task being performed.
Fatigue can be caused by the accumulation of metabolites within muscle fibres or the generation of an inadequate motor command in the motor cortex. It can also be caused by infections and illnesses, which cause muscle inflammation. During and after pregnancy, high levels of steroids in the blood and a tendency towards anaemia can also cause muscle fatigue.
In addition, repeated, intense use of muscles can lead to a decline in performance known as muscle fatigue. This limits athletic performance and other strenuous or prolonged activity. It can also increase and restrict daily life under various pathological conditions, including neurological, muscular, and cardiovascular disorders, as well as ageing and frailty.
Muscle fatigue can be measured as a reduction in muscle force, a change in electromyographic activity, or an exhaustion of contractile function. It is important to note that the broad usage of the term 'muscle fatigue' can encompass several phenomena that are each the consequence of different physiological mechanisms, making it challenging to identify the specific cause of fatigue in some cases.
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Frequently asked questions
Muscle fatigue is a symptom that decreases your muscles' ability to perform over time.
Muscle fatigue can be caused by repeated, intense use of muscles, infections and illnesses, high levels of steroids in the blood and a lack of iron during and just after pregnancy, and the accumulation of metabolites within muscle fibres or the generation of an inadequate motor command in the motor cortex.
Muscle fatigue can lead to a decline in performance and limit athletic performance and other strenuous or prolonged activity. It can also increase and restrict daily life under various pathological conditions, including neurological, muscular and cardiovascular disorders, as well as ageing and frailty.
To prevent muscle fatigue, it is important to avoid repeated, intense use of muscles and to address any underlying infections or illnesses that may be causing inflammation. During and after pregnancy, it is important to be mindful of the changes in your body and to adapt your activities and posture accordingly.
If you are experiencing muscle fatigue, it is important to rest and allow your muscles to recover. You may also need to address any underlying causes, such as infections or illnesses, and seek medical advice if necessary.
