Exploring how arm movement moderates the effect of lower limb muscle fatigue on dynamic balance in healthy youth

Autor: Katharina Borgmann, Jendrik Ferdenhert, Alexandra C. Neyses, Julian Bauer, Mathew W. Hill, Thomas Muehlbauer
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2024
Předmět:
Zdroj: Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, Vol 6 (2024)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2624-9367
DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2024.1391868
Popis: BackgroundIn young adults, there is evidence that free arm movements do not help to compensate muscle fatigue-induced deteriorations in dynamic balance performance. However, the postural control system in youth is immature, and as a result, the use of arm movements may provide a compensatory “upper body strategy” to correct fatigue-related balance impairments. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of free vs. restricted arm movement on dynamic balance performance prior and following exercise-induced muscle fatigue.MethodsForty-three healthy youth (19 females; mean age: 12.8 ± 1.9 years) performed the Y Balance Test–Lower Quarter before and immediately after a fatiguing exercise (i.e., repetitive vertical bipedal box jumps until failure) using two different arm positions: free (move the arms freely) and restricted (keep the arms akimbo) arm movement.ResultsMuscle fatigue (p ≤ 0.033; 0.10 ≤ ηp2 ≤ 0.33) and restriction of arm movement (p ≤ 0.005; 0.17 ≤ ηp2 ≤ 0.46) resulted in significantly deteriorated dynamic balance performance. However, the interactions between the two did not reach the level of significance (p ≥ 0.091; 0.01 ≤ ηp2 ≤ 0.07).ConclusionOur findings indicate that the use of an “upper body strategy” (i.e., free arm position) has no compensatory effect on muscle fatigue-induced dynamic balance deteriorations in healthy youth.
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