[Lack of fatigue of the musculature in patients after immobilization--a paradox?].

The isometric strength of knee extensors was measured in patients six weeks after cruciate ligament surgery over a contraction period of 30 sec. The characteristics of the graph obtained form the measurement system were compared to the graphs of uninjured knee extensor muscles. Apart from strength reductions, as expected for atrophic muscle, the pattern of the strength graph led to the impression that these muscles did not fatigue during prolonged contraction. This paradoxical phenomenon can be explained by the existence of central inhibitory mechanisms.