Does the Fatigue Index Induced in Athlete’s Affect Static Balance?

Abstract

Balance is the process of maintaining the body center of gravity vertically over the base of support and relies on rapid, continuous feedback and integration of afferent information coming from three sensory components, that is somatosensory, visual, and vestibular systems, resulting in smooth and coordinated neuromuscular actions. To investigate the effects of fatigue index on the static balance of sportsmen. A total of 51 male elite sportsmen from 4 different sports branches (Football players: 19, Volleyball players: 13, Skiers: 10 and Athletes: 9) participated in the study. The Wingate anaerobic power and capacity test was applied to induce fatigue. The Technobody isokinetic balance meter (Pro-Kin. CSMI) was used to measure pre- and post-fatigue static balance. There was a significant interaction between dependent (pre and post test balance) and independent (test statue and sport branches) variables were observed (F(63,1031.14) = 1.59, η2 = .07, p ˂ .05). Main effect results showed that pre-fatigue balance values were significantly different than post-fatigue balance values in all groups (F(1.14, 213.91) = 177.99, η2 = .49, p ˂ .05).Moreover, significant differences were identified between pre- and post-fatigue test results in sport branches (F(3.188) = 4.12, ƞ2 = .06, p < .05) and test statue (eyes open and closed) (F(3.188) = 3.32, ƞ2 = .05, p < .05). Bonferonni follow-up test indicated that there was a significant increase from footballers’ average static balance to the athletes’ average static balance (p ˂ .05). In test statue, pre fatigue eyes closed values were significantly different than post fatigue eyes opened values (p ˂ .05). Static balance training should be included in the training to be performed, fatigue static balance training should be performed in team and individual sports and the content of the training should be reorganized in line with the results obtained.