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

• Main Authors: Katharina Borgmann (Author), Jendrik Ferdenhert (Author), Alexandra C. Neyses (Author), Julian Bauer (Author), Mathew W. Hill (Author), Thomas Muehlbauer (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A., 2024-05-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

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.

Item Description

2624-9367
10.3389/fspor.2024.1391868