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Sleep restriction reduces voluntary isometric quadriceps strength through reduced neuromuscular efficiency, not impaired contractile performance

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Abstract

Acute sleep restriction (SR) reduces strength through an unknown mechanism. Purpose: To determine how SR affects quadriceps contractile function and recruitment. Methods: Eighteen healthy subjects (9 M, 9F, age 23.8 ± 2.8y) underwent isometric (maximal and submaximal), isokinetic (300–60°·s−1), and interpolated twitch (ITT) assessment of knee extensors following 3d of adequate sleep (SA; 7–9 h·night−1), 3d of SR (5 h·night−1), and 7d of washout (WO; 7-9 h·night−1). Results: Compared to SA (227.9 ± 76.6Nm) and WO (228.19 ± 62.9Nm), MVIC was lesser following SR (209.9 ± 73.9Nm; p = 0.006) and this effect was greater for males (− 9.8 v. − 4.8%). There was no significant effect of sleep or sleep x speed interaction on peak isokinetic torque. Peak twitch torque was greater in the potentiated state, but no significant effect of sleep was noted. Males displayed greater potentiation of peak twitch torque (12 v. 7.5%) and rate of torque development (16.7 v. 8.2%) than females but this was not affected by sleep condition. ITT-assessed voluntary activation did not vary among sleep conditions (SA: 81.8 ± 13.1% v. SR: 84.4 ± 12.6% v. WO 84.9 ± 12.6%; p = 0.093). SR induced a leftward shift in Torque-EMG relationship at high torque output in both sexes. Compared to SA, females displayed greater y-intercept and lesser slope with SR and WO and males displayed lesser y-intercept and greater slope with SR and WO. Conclusions: Three nights of SR decreases voluntary isometric knee extensor strength, but not twitch contractile properties. Sex-specific differences in neuromuscular efficiency may explain the greater MVIC reduction in males following SR.

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Data availability

Data are available upon reasonable request from the corresponding author.

Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of Variance

ITT:

Interpolated Twitch

MPF:

Mean Power Frequency

MVIC:

Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contraction

NME:

Neuromuscular Efficiency

PAP:

Post Activation Potentiation

PTT:

Peak Twitch Torque

RR:

Relaxation Rate

RTD:

Rate of Torque Development

SA:

Sleep Adequate

sEMG:

Surface Electromyography

SR:

Sleep Restriction

WO:

Washout

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Kinesiology and Health Promotion, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA

    S. Sigrist, M. G. Abel, S. A. Best & L. M. Bollinger

  2. Center for Muscle Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA

    L. M. Bollinger

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  1. S. Sigrist
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  2. M. G. Abel
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  3. S. A. Best
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  4. L. M. Bollinger
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Contributions

SS and LMB Conceived and designed research. SS performed experiments. SS and LMB analyzed data. SS, LMB, SB, and MGA interpreted results of experiments. SS prepared figures and drafted manuscript. LMB, SB, and MGA edited and revised manuscript and all authors approved final version of manuscript.

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Correspondence to L. M. Bollinger.

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Communicated by William J. Kraemer.

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Sigrist, S., Abel, M.G., Best, S.A. et al. Sleep restriction reduces voluntary isometric quadriceps strength through reduced neuromuscular efficiency, not impaired contractile performance. Eur J Appl Physiol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-024-05535-x

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