The Effect of Quadriceps Fatigue on Dynamic Balance While Walking

Authors

Abstract

Control of posture means to maintain limbs and body parts biomechanically
which exists in static and dynamic forms. Dynamic posture is a condition in which
body and its parts move during walking or running. Fatigue is one of the factors
that influence posture control. Muscle fatigue can disturb sensory information
received by brain and cause balance disorder. The purpose of the present
investigation was to study the effect of quadriceps fatigue on dynamic balance
control during walking. 30 volleyball players (15 males, 15 females, age
22.46+4.12 years, height 198.5+5.9cm, weight 60.2+9.7kg) participated in this
study. Digital dynamometer was used to induce isometric quadriceps fatigue.
Force platform was used to measure balance, displacement alteration, and the
velocity of center of pressure as the balance parameters before and after the
fatigue. ANOVA was administered to analyze the data (P<0.05). The results of this
study showed that although the displacement of center of pressure in the frontal
and sagittal planes increased after the fatigue, this difference was not statistically
significant compared with pretest (P>0.05). After fatigue, the alteration of velocity
of center of pressure decreased in frontal plane while it increased in sagittal plane,
but the differences were not statistically significant (P<0.05). It can be concluded
that no significant relationship existed between quadriceps fatigue with
displacement alteration and velocity of center of pressure in frontal and sagittal
planes; thus, quadriceps fatigue did not affect dynamic balance during walking.

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