Effect of muscle fatigue and physical activity level in motor control of the gait of young adults

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of muscle fatigue in active and inactive young adults on the kinematic and kinetic parameters of normal gait and obstacle crossing. Twenty male subjects were divided into active (10) and inactive (10), based on self-reported physical activity. Participants performed three trials of two tasks (normal gait and obstacle crossing) before and after a fatigue protocol, consisting of repeated sit-to-stand transfers until the instructed pace could no longer be maintained. MANOVAs were used to compare dependent variables with the following factors: physical activity level, fatigue and task. The endurance time in the fatigue protocol was lower for the inactive group. Changes of gait parameters with fatigue, among which increased step width and increased stride speed were the most consistent, were independent of task and physical activity level. These findings indicate that the kinematic and kinetic parameters of gait are affected by muscle fatigue irrespective of the physical activity level of the subjects and type of gait. Inactive individuals used a slightly different strategy than active individuals when crossing an obstacle, independently of muscle fatigue.

The effect of muscle fatigue on the last stride before stepping down a curb

“…In addition, a tendency toward shortened step length was found in N À 1, contributing to the significant increase in distance of the left foot to the curb in ankle fatigue. The increased step width and decreased step duration observed with knee muscle fatigue, which have previously been observed with fatigue in normal gait [6,18], Table 2 Variability (standard deviation) of spatial-temporal parameters, joint ROM and EMG parameters before (pre-fatigue) and after fatigue (ankle and knee fatigue would facilitate medio-lateral balance control [24,25]. Possibly, the knee muscle fatigue protocol impaired medio-lateral control more than the ankle protocol.…”

“…The participants performed stepping down tasks before and after one of two fatigue protocols: (a) knee muscles: repeated sit-to-stand movements from a chair without arm supports, with arms across the chest, at a frequency of 0.5 Hz controlled by a metronome [5,6]; (b) ankle muscles: repeated standing calf raise exercise [5] at the same frequency. In the latter exercise, participants were allowed The stride before landing may be important during stepping down.…”

“…In stepping down, with quadriceps or triceps surae muscle fatigue, subjects appeared to use compensatory strategies to redistribute work performed to unfatigued muscles and to enhance balance control [5]. Leg muscle fatigue did not cause changes in stride length and foot placement before stepping over an obstacle in young adults [6]. However, it is unknown whether leg muscle fatigue affects the last stride (approach phase) before stepping down.…”

A systematic review to determine reliability and usefulness of the field-based test batteries for the assessment of physical fitness in adolescents – The ASSO Project

“…Good muscular endurance has to be maintained since people are likely to have better posture, fewer back problems, and a better tolerance to muscle fatigue than people who lack muscular endurance [159]. With regard to the assessment of muscular endurance, the bent-arm hang test (also called flexed arm hang) assesses upper-limbs endurance strength, since it considers mainly the arm, shoulder and dorsal muscular endurance.…”

Interactions of age and leg muscle fatigue on unobstructed walking and obstacle crossing

“…Muscle fatigue in turn has been shown to affect the gait pattern [15][16][17][18][19][20] possibly due to reduced balance control [18,19]. The effects of leg muscle fatigue on walking of older adults were addressed in previous studies [17,18,20].…”