Recurrence quantification analysis of force signals to assess neuromuscular fatigue in men and women

Recurrence quantification analysis (RQA) is a nonlinear method providing information on the temporal structure of time series. RQA has been extensively used to explore various noisy and nonstationary physiological signals. However, application force signals acquired during voluntary fatiguing contractions performed until exhaustion remain be investigated. We aimed sensitivity percentage determinism (DET), an predictability measure, detect changes signal complexity induced by fatigue recovery. Changes in were compared between women men ability DET measures different profiles. Nineteen nineteen intermittent isometric knee extensors at 50% maximal contraction (MVC) exhaustion. Participants MVC before, after task assess neuromuscular fatigue. Recovery measurements three minutes Particular attention given selection input parameters influence nonstationarity. A detailed methodology provided apply At whole group level, decreased with then increased Greater fatigability was associated faster loss (i.e. increase DET) After recovery, returned baseline value only for women. These findings confirm that suited able reveal recovery taking into account sex differences.