Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the present study was to determine whether there are sex differences in fatigue-induced changes in quiet standing and dynamic balance and establish whether changes in muscle torque and resting stiffness may explain the potential sex differences in balance responses.
Methods
Sixteen recreationally active men (age; 24.8 ± 5.0 years, height; 178.2 ± 5.6 cm, mass; 77.8 ± 13.2 kg) and 10 women (age; 21.0 ± 1.6 years, height; 167 ± 5.3 cm, mass; 61.3 ± 8.9 kg) were assessed for postural sway, Y balance test performance, isokinetic and isometric knee extensor torque and resting stiffness of the vastus lateralis (VL), gastrocnemius lateralis (GL) and Achilles tendon (AT) before and immediately after fatiguing exercise. The fatigue protocol consisted of five sets of 20-drop jumps.
Results
The fatiguing exercise elicited similar magnitude (effects size; ES) reductions in muscle torque (men; ES = 0.45–0.80, women; ES = 0.46–0.52), dynamic balance (men; ES = 0.45–0.74, women; ES = 0.47–0.79) and resting VL stiffness (men; ES = 0.46, women; ES = 0.36) in men and women (all p < 0.05). For quiet standing balance, fatigue induced an increase in postural sway metrics (ES = 0.64–1.28) and reduction in resting GL stiffness (ES = 0.40) in men (both p < 0.001) but not women (p > 0.05).
Conclusion
Fatiguing exercise, when producing a similar level of force reduction, induces similar magnitude reductions in dynamic postural control and resting VL stiffness in men and women. Distinct deteriorations in quiet standing balance in men but not women were accompanied by modifications in calf muscle stiffness following exercise-induced muscle fatigue.
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Abbreviations
- ANOVA:
-
Analysis of variance
- AP:
-
Anteroposterior
- AT:
-
Achilles tendon
- COP:
-
Centre of pressure
- CV:
-
Coefficient of variation
- ES:
-
Effect size
- GL:
-
Gastrocnemius lateralis
- IPAQ:
-
International Physical Activity Questionnaire
- ML:
-
Mediolateral
- MVC:
-
Maximal voluntary contraction
- VL:
-
Vastus lateralis
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MH and MW conceived and designed the research. MW, KR and MH conducted data collection. MH analysed the data and wrote the manuscript. All authors read, revised and approved the manuscript.
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Communicated by Lori Ann Vallis.
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Hill, M., Rosicka, K. & Wdowski, M. Effect of sex and fatigue on quiet standing and dynamic balance and lower extremity muscle stiffness. Eur J Appl Physiol 122, 233–244 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021-04831-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021-04831-0