Authors
Filipe Maia, [1]Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), University of Maia, Maia, Portugal, [2]Polytechnic Institute of Maia Research Center (N2i), Polytechnic Institute of Maia, Maia, Portugal
Fábio Yuzo Nakamura, [1]Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), University of Maia, Maia, Portugal, [2]Programa de Pós-Graduação em Educação Física, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, PE, Brasil
Sandro Tito, [1]Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), University of Maia, Maia, Portugal, [2]Department of Performance Optimization (GOD), Sporting Clube de Braga SAD, Braga, Portugal
Ricardo Pimenta, [1]Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), University of Maia, Maia, Portugal, [2]Polytechnic Institute of Maia Research Center (N2i), Polytechnic Institute of Maia, Maia, Portugal, [3]Department of Rehabilitation and Performance Optimization (DROP), Futebol Clube Famalicão—Futebol SAD, Famalicão, Portugal, [4]Porto Biomechanics Laboratory, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
João Ribeiro, [1]Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), University of Maia, Maia, Portugal, [2]Department of Performance Optimization (GOD), Sporting Clube de Braga SAD, Braga, Portugal, [3]SC Braga Education, Braga, Portugal
International Journal of Exercise Science 19(6): 1-11, 2026.
DOI: 10.70252/IJES2026601
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the sensitivity of low-frequency fatigue (LFF) in high-level road cyclists following two distinct cycling efforts: a 30-minute maximal effort (30’TT) and a 4-minute maximal effort (4’TT). Twenty-one participants were included in this study (age: 22.8 ± 4.8 years; height: 169.9 ± 3.5 cm; body mass: 68.5 ± 8.5 kg), and LFF, perceived fatigue and muscle soreness were monitored at baseline, 30 minutes and 24 hours post-fatigue protocol. Linear mixed model analysis was employed to assess the changes caused by protocol, time, and limb dominance, and a repeated-measures correlation was used to assess the association between LFF and perceived fatigue or muscle soreness. Significant fatigue was induced by both protocols (p < 0.001), with LFF scores returning to baseline after 24 hours. Notably, following the fatigue protocols, a significantly lower LFF score was observed after the 4’TT compared to the 30’TT (d = 0.39, p = 0.032). Furthermore, a large and significant association between LFF scores and perceived fatigue (rmcorr = -0.5, p < 0.001) was identified, as well as a weak and significant association between LFF and perceived muscle soreness (rmcorr = -0.28, p < 0.001). Taken together, these findings seem to support LFF as a sensitive, field-based tool for monitoring acute peripheral fatigue following cycling efforts.
Recommended Citation
Maia, Filipe; Nakamura, Fábio Yuzo; Tito, Sandro; Pimenta, Ricardo; Ribeiro, João (2026) “A Short Maximal Effort Induces Greater Low-Frequency Fatigue than Prolonged Cycling in Highly-Trained Road Cyclists,” International Journal of Exercise Science: Vol. 19 : Iss. 6, Pages 1-11.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.70252/IJES2026601