Figure 9. Effects of afferent blockade on an indirect estimate of ‘central motor command’ (quadriceps EMG) during prolonged heavy exercise to exhaustion.

Note the increased EMG during muscle afferent blockade (vs. placebo) during the later stages of the exercise test. Also note the 25% greater limb fatigue (as measured by ΔQ_twitch) pre- to post-exercise, despite the shorter exercise time in the presence of locomotor muscle afferent blockade. Data from Amann et al. (2011b).