Exercise starts and ends in the brain.

Details

Serval ID
serval:BIB_6DC47978496E
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Publication sub-type
Review (review): journal as complete as possible of one specific subject, written based on exhaustive analyses from published work.
Collection
Publications
Title
Exercise starts and ends in the brain.
Journal
European Journal of Applied Physiology
Author(s)
Kayser B.
ISSN
1439-6319 (Print)
ISSN-L
1439-6319
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2003
Volume
90
Number
3-4
Pages
411-419
Language
english
Abstract
Classically the limit to endurance of exercise is explained in terms of metabolic capacity. Cardio-respiratory capacity and muscle fatigue are thought to set the limit and the majority of studies on factors limiting endurance exercise discuss issues such as maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), aerobic enzyme capacity, cardiac output, glycogen stores, etc. However, this paradigm does not explain the limitation to endurance exercise with large muscle groups at altitude, when at exhaustion exercise is ended without limb locomotor muscle fatigue and with sub-maximal cardiac output. A simple fact provides a basis for an explanation. Voluntary exercise starts and ends in the brain. It starts with spatial and temporal recruitment of motor units and ends with their de-recruitment. A conscious decision precedes a voluntary effort. The end of effort is again volitional and a forced conscious decision to stop precedes it, but it is unknown what forces the off-switch of recruitment at exhaustion although sensation of exertion certainly plays a role. An alternative model explaining the limitation of exercise endurance thus proposes that the central nervous system integrates input from various sources all related to the exercise and limits the intensity and duration of recruitment of limb skeletal muscle to prevent jeopardizing the integrity of the organism. This model acknowledges the cardio-respiratory and muscle metabolic capacities as prime actors on the performance scene, while crediting the central nervous system for its pivotal role as the ultimate site where exercise starts and ends.
Keywords
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Airway Resistance/physiology, Altitude, Brain/metabolism, Brain/physiology, Energy Metabolism/physiology, Exercise/physiology, Exhalation/physiology, Female, Heart Rate/physiology, Humans, Lactic Acid/blood, Male, Middle Aged, Models, Neurological, Oxygen Consumption/physiology, Physical Endurance/physiology
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
19/09/2013 9:48
Last modification date
20/08/2019 14:27
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