Influence of load compliance on muscle fatigue during sustained voluntary contractions

Biomechanical and physiological parameters were compared during voluntary contractions (20% of maximal torque) sustained to failure as subjects either supported an inertial load (high-compliance task) or exerted an equivalent force against a rigid restraint (low-compliance task). The highcompliance task was briefer than the low-compliance task although the decline in maximal torque and changes in muscle oxygenation were similar at the end of both tasks. These data suggest that differences in fatigability between low-compliance and high-compliance tasks likely do not originate from muscle blood flow and oxygenation.