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THE EFFECT OF ELECTRICALLY INDUCED KNEE JOINT PAIN LOCATION ON PERFORMANCE OF A SUBMAXIMAL TIME-TO-TASK FAILURE EXERCISE

Abstract

The application of pain to skeletal muscle during exercise has been shown to induce central fatigue and reduce exercise performance. Joint pain, like that experienced in those with osteoarthritis, could also lead to central fatigue and reduce exercise performance remains unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if electrically induced knee joint pain applied to either the exercising knee (ipsilateral pain; IP) or the contralateral knee (contralateral pain; CP) altered time-to-task failure (TTF) during knee extension exercise. METHODS: Twenty-two participants (Females = 9, Males = 12, N/A = 1) completed five visits (2 familiarization and 3 experimental) separated by 48 hours. At the beginning of each of the visits, the electrical stimulus eliciting a knee pain rating of 4/10 was determined. The location of the pain (IP, CP, or control of no pain) was randomized among the visits. An intermittent, submaximal time-to-task failure protocol was performed with a target force of 15% over critical torque at a 6sec:4sec work to rest cycle until force output does not meet target force consecutively for 3 contractions. MVC after 60 seconds of exercise, the last assessed MVC, and the MVC performed immediately after task failure was reached was reported during TTF protocol. RESULTS: Mixed model ANOVA found no significant interactions in TTF between condition (CP, IP, or control) and sex (p = 0.43). One-way repeated measures ANOVA showed no effect of knee pain overall (p = 0.21) on TTF. A 3-way interaction between condition, time (determined by MVC), and sex showed not significant interaction (p = 0.24). No significant 2-way interaction between condition and sex (p = 0.20), time and sex (p = 0.18), or condition and time (p = 0.52). There was no main effect for condition (p = 0.46) or sex (p = 0.22). A main effect for time (p < 0.001) was seen for TTF. MVC 60-seconds into exercise was not statistically different from the starting force (p = 0.63). The last measured MVC during fatiguing exercise showed an 19% decrease in force compared to pre (p < 0.001) and the immediately post exercise MVC showed a 23% decrease (p < 0.001) compared to pre. CONCLUSIONS: Location of knee pain stimulus did not impact time-to-task failure. There was no difference between the location of knee pain stimulus and reduced exercise performance on TTF protocol.

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