The effects of localized muscle and whole-body fatigue on single-leg balance between healthy men and women

• Published in: Gait & posture 2009-07, Vol.30 (1), p.50-54
• Main Authors: Springer, Bradly K, Pincivero, Danny M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Analysis of Variance; Exercise; Fatigue - physiopathology; Female; Gender; Humans; Leg - physiology; Male; Muscle Contraction - physiology; Muscle Fatigue - physiology; Orthopedics; Physical Endurance - physiology; Plantar-flexion; Postural Balance - physiology; Posture; Probability; Reference Values; Risk Assessment; Rowing; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sway
• ISSN: 0966-6362; 1879-2219
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2009.02.014

Abstract The purpose was to examine the effects of localized muscle and whole-body fatigue on indices of single-leg balance between healthy young men ( n = 10) and women ( n = 10). Subjects performed 10, 10-s single-leg balance trials on a force platform prior to performing each of three conditions (local, whole-body, and control), in a randomized order, on separate days. Localized muscle and whole-body fatigue consisted of single-leg, weight-bearing heel raises on an inclined platform, and exercise on a rowing ergometer, respectively, to the point of volitional failure. During the control condition, subjects remained in a seated position for 5 min. Immediately following each condition, five, 10-s, single-leg balance trials were performed. The localized muscle and whole-body fatigue protocols produced significant ( p < 0.05) increases in medial/lateral (M/L) and total sway (TS). Men experienced a greater ( p < 0.05) increase in anterior/posterior (A/P) sway following the localized muscle, than whole-body, fatigue protocol, whereas A/P sway increased more following the whole-body, than localized muscle, fatigue protocol for the women. Total sway variability increased significantly ( p < 0.05) more following the localized muscle fatigue protocol than the whole-body fatigue protocol for both men and women. The major findings of the present investigation demonstrated that measures of postural control, namely M/L, A/P sway and total sway, were adversely affected following fatiguing exercise, with differential effects between men and women.