Abstract
[Purpose] The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of heat stimulation (HS) before exercise on muscle fatigue resistance. [Subjects and Method] Eight healthy males participated in this study, and underwent two sessions: 1) 20-minute HS to the thigh, 2) 20-minute rest without HS to the thigh (control). After each session, the subjects performed contraction of the quadriceps femoris muscle equivalent to 50% of maximum voluntary contraction for 60 seconds for the evaluation of muscle fatigue resistance. During the task, surface electromyogram median power frequency (MDPF) was acquired from the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis and rectus femoris muscles. [Results] After HS, no significant decreases in MDPF were observed in the vastus medialis and vastus lateralis muscles. After the control, however, significant decreases in MDPF were observed in all the muscles. [Conclusion] These results show that heat stimulation can enhance muscle fatigue resistance.
