Neuromuscular fatigue during whole body exercise

This short review offers a general summary of the consequences of whole body exercise on neuromuscular fatigue pertaining to the locomotor musculature. Research from the past two decades have shown that whole body exercise causes considerable peripheral and central fatigue. Three determinants characteristic for locomotor exercise are discussed, namely, pulmonary system limitations, neural feedback mechanisms, and mental/psychological influences. We also discuss existing data suggesting that the impact of whole body exercise is not limited to locomotor muscles, but can also impair non-locomotor muscles, such as respiratory and cardiac muscles, and other limb muscles not directly contributing to the task.