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Effects of isolated locomotor muscle fatigue on pacing and time trial performance.

PMID 23756830 (2013): pacing, perceived exertion — Time-trial performance (study note for endurance athletes).

Last updated/Feb 23, 2026, 10:34 PM

Study note • PMID 23756830

Effects of isolated locomotor muscle fatigue on pacing and time trial performance.

European journal of applied physiology2013 • DOI 10.1007/s00421-013-2673-0
Evidence C67/100
Action 2: Consider

Worth trying if it fits your goal and context.

ELI5

In plain language

Locomotor muscle fatigue impairs exercise performance during time to exhaustion tests. (randomized trial; recreational participants).

The abstract doesn’t indicate a clear change in Time-trial performance under the tested conditions. Treat this as a signal, not a guarantee; confirm methods and context in the full paper.

Takeaways

What the abstract suggests

  • Study question: Locomotor muscle fatigue impairs exercise performance during time to exhaustion tests.
  • The abstract doesn’t indicate a clear change in Time-trial performance under the tested conditions.
  • Population: recreational participants.
  • Protocol cues (title/abstract): 30 min • 3 min.

Protocol

Protocol (as reported)

  • Intervention/exposure: pacing, perceived exertion (vs control condition).
  • Dose/time/duration cues in abstract/title: 30 min • 3 min.
  • Outcomes: Time-trial performance.
  • Replication note: abstracts often omit adherence and timing; confirm details before changing training or supplementation.

Fit

Who it helps, and who should skip it

Who it helps

  • Athletes similar to the study population (recreational participants) working on pacing.
  • Athletes who can measure Time-trial performance with a repeatable workout or time-trial effort.

Who should skip

  • If you have symptoms or conditions that make the intervention risky, get professional guidance.
  • If you’re near race day and can’t safely test, defer the experiment.

Methods

What the study actually did

  • Design: randomized trial.
  • Population: recreational participants.
  • Comparator: control condition.
  • Outcomes measured: Time-trial performance.
  • Protocol cues mentioned: 30 min • 3 min.
  • Source: PubMed PMID 23756830 (2013) — European journal of applied physiology.

Results excerpt

What the abstract reports

The results show that participants with fatigued locomotor muscles reduce their pace but do not change their pacing strategy.

Note: excerpts are short; for full context, read the paper.

Limits

Limitations & bias

  • Abstract-only summaries can miss critical details (population, protocol, adherence, and context).
  • Single studies often don’t generalize to your event, history, and training load; treat results as a starting point.
  • If your context differs (elite vs recreational; cycling vs running), adjust expectations and be conservative.
  • This is performance information, not medical advice.

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Sources